Philippines Wins Cyber SEA Game 2026, Tops Eight ASEAN Countries

Thailand- The Philippines has emerged as champion of the Cyber SEA Game 2026, with four Filipino cybersecurity talents outperforming competitors from eight other ASEAN Member States in a two-day Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competition held on October 26–27 at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park in Thailand.

The Philippine team secured the championship, followed by Singapore as first runner-up and Malaysia as second runner-up. The competition brought together 36 participants from nine national teams to test their technical expertise, analytical thinking, and teamwork through challenging cybersecurity exercises.

Across the Philippines, many young people possess the aptitude and passion to excel in cybersecurity. However, without access to practical training, relevant opportunities, and platforms to demonstrate their abilities, their potential remains untapped. The country’s victory highlights what Filipino youth can achieve when their skills are developed and given the opportunity to compete on the international stage.

Representing the Philippines were Justin Clark H. Ong, Jiandale Ambal, Audre D. Montero, and Glenn Gabriel C. Castillejo. All four had demonstrated exceptional skills in the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) annual HackForGov Capture-the-Flag competition, where their performances helped identify the talent that would go on to represent the country in the regional competition.

Through HackForGov, the DICT, through its National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT/CERT-PH) under the Cybersecurity Bureau, provides students with hands-on cybersecurity challenges that allow them to apply their knowledge, identify vulnerabilities, and sharpen their problem-solving skills in a controlled environment. The annual competition also serves as a platform for identifying promising cybersecurity talent and encouraging participants to further develop their capabilities for careers that can help protect the country’s digital infrastructure.

The initiative supports the government’s broader commitment to strengthening the country’s digital capabilities and cybersecurity, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for a digitally empowered and secure Philippines. By investing in young Filipinos and providing avenues for skills development, the DICT helps build a pipeline of future cybersecurity professionals equipped to address evolving digital threats.

Organized by the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC), with support from the Government of Japan, the Cyber SEA Game uses the CTF format to challenge participants across multiple cybersecurity disciplines.