Screengrab from www.mtrcb.gov.ph
Hackers on Saturday defaced the official website of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in protest over supposedly “malicious” political advertisement against a politician that aired on national television.
The hackers, who identified themselves as “Pinoy Hackers,” accused the MTRCB of turning a blind eye on the “mud-slinging” broadcast over television networks.
“Greetings Philippines! We are Pinoy Hackers. Naglabas ng isang paid ad ang isang politiko at ito ay ipinakalat ng isang news giant. Anong nangyari sa taga monitor, taga-salang at taga-bantay ng mga ipinopost sa TV at sa print media?” the hackers said in a statement on the site’s homepage.
“Ginawa itong MTRCB para magsilbing taga-implementa ng “FAIR AND UNBIASED’ reporting ng mga TV,print and movie industry pero nagsawalang-kibo (literal, they turned a BLIND EYE) to that malicious political mud-slinging Ad. Anu pang silbi mo MTRCB? Isa ka din ba sa mga simpleng nagpapalamon sa pera ng bayan?” the statement read.
Although not mentioning it directly, the hackers were alluding to the negative political advertisement against presidential poll frontrunner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, paid by Sen. Antonio Trillanes and aired by broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
The 30-second ad featured clips of Duterte’s controversial remarks and profanity-laced speeches, with children asking the public whether they wanted someone like the tough-talking mayor to be the next president. In a statement, ABS-CBN said it had nothing to do with the production of the ad, and that it was “duty-bound to air a legitimate ad” in accordance to guidelines of the Commission on Elections.
READ: ABS-CBN on ‘anti-Duterte’ TVC: We are duty-bound to air legitimate ad
The MTRCB said it had no jurisdiction over political advertisement.
The hackers added that the next president should impose stricter censorship laws on the media.
“Huwag nating kalilimutan ang mga ganitong pangyayari dahil sa darating na ika-siyam ng Mayo ay hihirang tayo ng bagong Pangulo ng Gobyerno ng Pilipinas at isa ito sa mga dapat nating ihain na solusyonan niya ay ang maglagay at mag impose ng stricter censor laws para sa lahat ng TV, News at Print media,” the hackers said.
Duterte’s running mate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was able to secure a temporary restraining order on airing the said advertisement from the Taguig Regional Trial Court. CDG
READ: Cayetano wins TRO vs anti-Duterte ads, but word war goes on