Hackers deface Kris’ website

MANILA, Philippines - Hackers yesterday defaced the official website of Kris Aquino, whose tiff with former husband, basketball player James Yap, hogged headlines recently.

The website, krisaquino.net, was no longer accessible as of late afternoon. A group of hackers identifying themselves as “Anonymous” had inserted messages like: “I heard you po!!!” and a blog entry titled “Churva Cheness Eklavu” on the website’s main page.

Some advertisements showing Kris’ face with products and brands she was endorsing were also marked and defaced.

“Anonymous” had previously attacked government websites at the height of the Sabah standoff and the suicide of a UP student. They also penetrated Chinese and Philippine websites over the West Philippine Sea dispute between Beijing and Manila.

Kris and her children Joshua and Bimby meanwhile left yesterday for a vacation in Paris, as planned.

Kris and her sons, as well as a nanny and security left on board Emirates flight EK-333 that took off at 5:35 p.m. at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

She refused to hold a press conference with print journalists but allowed a brief interview by two television networks at the NAIA dignitaries lounge.

Earlier, Kris announced over national television that she would be quitting all her shows for the sake of her children.  She made the announcement after Yap asked the court to issue a hold departure order against her and their son.

In a statement released yesterday, Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN integrated corporate communications, said upon her return Kris would fulfill her commitments to her soap “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” which is nearing its end, and would have to stay as judge in “Pilipinas Got Talent” until the season wraps up in June.

“Being a foreign franchise there are commitments we have to fulfill and rules we need to abide,” Osorio said, adding the TV host had taped advanced episodes in anticipation of her long planned vacation.

“Ms. Kris and ABS-CBN management are also scheduled to meet upon her return to Manila. Meanwhile, we wish Kris and her sons a peaceful and restful vacation. We respect her need for privacy at this difficult time,” the statement said.

Malacañang refused to comment on the controversy involving the President’s celebrity sister who had sought and was granted a temporary protection order by a Makati court against her ex-husband.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they could not avoid being asked about it.

“But I don’t want to comment on that. Primarily, that’s a private family matter between the President and the members of his family,” she said.

Valte also did not want to say how the President reacted to the issue amid allegations that it was being used to divert public attention from more important national concerns.   – With Rudy Santos