At least 30 government websites were defaced by Filipino computer hackers on Sunday evening

Ahead of yesterday’s rally to denounce the new mechanism that will replace the pork barrel. Calling itself “Anonymous Philippines,” the hackers apparently consisted of several groups based in various cities in the Philippines, but the attack was simultaneous and covered both national and local government websites.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda admitted that websites were defaced and explained that the centralized government website hosting services, which is presumably more secure, was not fully operational.

“The iGovPhil hosting is not yet fully operational. The rest of the government websites have not yet migrated to the new web hosting service,” Lacierda said. The defaced websites those of national government agencies, like the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Optical Media Board, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Sugar Regulatory Administration.

But the concerted attack also included the local government units, like that of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Minalin town in Pampanga, Mandaluyong City and San Juan City, among others. The websites of Philippine National Police units were also included in the list.

On the top page of the defaced websites was the logo of Pinoy Vendetta, purportedly an umbrella of hackers groups which included Anonymous Philippines, Philippine Cyber Army, Codex Cyber Army, #Pr.isoner, Anonymous Leyte, Anonymous Gensan, Anonymous Iligan, Anonymous CDO, PNP Hackers and NBI Hacker, among others, as members. The hacked websites displayed a message to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III which read:

“We appreciate the fact that you have now responded to the public clamor to abolish the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund). However, the alternative package of still allowing the Congressmen and Senators to identify sponsored projects to be funded, albeit as line items in the annual budget, continues to leave money within grasp of conniving and corrupt public officials.”

“In effect, this merely shifted the time frame upon when these projects are identified and approved. Therefore, the pork barrel remains! We pursue our call for you to complete[ly] abolish the pork barrel system [and] let our legislator just legislate.” Online hacktivists have hacked government websites over several issues in the past, including the maritime row with China and the passage of the Cybercrime Law.

Last month, Aquino ordered the Department of Science and Techonology to host all government websites to ensure the deliver of reliable information “free from impairment and disruption.” Aquino, in issuing Administrative Order No. 39, said this will “ensure the government’s internet presence 24-hours a day, 7-days a week under all foreseeable conditions.”

Websites of Constitutional bodies, local government units, and other autonomous branches of the government may also be hosted by the DoST at the request of the said government entities. The government web-hosting service shall start operations 60 days after the effectivity of the order which was signed by Aquino on July 12.