‘Asia’s best hacker’ caught

MANILA, Philippines — A man previously dubbed “Asia’s best hacker” was arrested in Las Piñas for allegedly targeting foreigners in his illegal online activities, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

An NCRPO report obtained by The STAR showed that NCRPO operatives searched the house of Edgar Silvano Jr., 47, in Barangay Talon Dos at past 2 p.m. on Friday.

The operation was implemented on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Elizabeth Yu Guray of the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 202.

Recovered from Silvano were 11 cell phones, seven flash drives, five laptops, four SD cards, three Wi-Fi routers, two hard drives, a desktop and a modem.

Apart from these, police also confiscated several financial documents pertaining to land titles and vehicle purchases. These documents contain personal and bank account information belonging to other people, police said.

Silvano was charged with violating Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Regulations Act of 2012.

He also faces charges of violating RA 10591, which penalizes the illegal possession of a firearm, after police found a 9mm pistol with nine bullets on his person.

According to the NCRPO, Silvano was called “Asia’s best hacker” in 2001 after he hacked an international banking system based in Hong Kong. He was imprisoned but was later released on probation.

Silvano was again arrested in 2016 by the National Bureau of Investigation for violation of RA 8484 and possession of illegal drugs.

The NCRPO said all recovered electronic devices will undergo data extraction and forensic examination.

Marie Joy Espano, Silvanos’ alleged accomplice, was arrested for obstruction of justice after allegedly giving false information to the police.