Manila: The government’s investigation arm has identified the hackers of at least six government websites on the eve of discussions on the constitutionality of a newly signed anti-cybercrime law at the Supreme Court, a senior official said.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has some people in mind as to who launched the hacking into government sites,” said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a TV interview.
Early on Monday morning, hackers damaged six government websites such as pttp://pro8.pnp.gov.ph; http://mambulao.gov.ph; http://www.cpa.gov.ph; http://mmda.gov.ph; http://nfa.gov.ph; and http://www.nmp.gov.ph.
The hacker of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Camarines Norte province in southern Luzon identified itself as Anonymous Philippines.
“We are the voice of the weak, the sense of the numb, we are bonded by cause and purpose. We are ANONYMOUS, We are LEGION, We do not FORGIVE. We do not FORGET,” warned NFA’s hacker.
The websites of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Cebu Port Authority, Philippine National Police-Region 8 and National Maritime Polytechnic were defaced by other hackers identified as Blackrain; busabos; d4rkb1t; Falcon; n3far1ous; #OccupyPhilippines; PrivateX; Philker; pR.is0n3r; Symbianize Hackers, and Sh4d0wFiend_h4x0r.
But the Official Gazette, which has been hosted by the Department of Science and Technology, was not touched by hackers, said Lacierda.
It is being studied now that a government agency must host all other government websites, said Lacierda , adding government agencies became vulnerable to hackers because they are hosted by private entities.
Monday’s hackers called for the abolition of some provisions of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, such as the criminalising of libel on cyberspace, alleged curtailment of the freedom of speech, and the right to assemble.
It was not revealed if arrests were implemented on Monday.
The Supreme Court has scheduled debates on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Supreme Court issued a 120-day temporary restraining order against the law’s implementation, which will lapse on January 29.
Complainants said the new law should not be implemented because it is unconstitutional.
President Benigno Aquino signed it into law last September.
