De Lima orders NBI to probe hacking of government websites

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 11 years ago

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. SENATE POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the recent hacking of government websites as a protest against widespread corruption in the government.

“We directed the NBI to track down and investigate the hacking of the government websites….This activity can disrupt public service,” De Lima told reporters.

De Lima said that while there is still a temporary restraining order on the Cybercrime Prevention Law, there is an existing law, the E-Commerce Act.

“There is a particular provision on hacking that is punishable. It is a fine, minimum of P100,000 and imprisonment,” De Lima said.

Over the weekend, Anonymous Philippines launched simultaneous cyber attacks that temporarily paralyzed more than 30 government websites including that of the Ombudsman’s.

The group posted a message urging Filipinos to join a protest against corruption at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

While it apologized for the inconvenience, the group said this has become the only way to convey the message to Filipinos who have become “tired of this government and the politicians who only think about themselves.”