De Lima vows to prosecute hackers

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday vowed to run after hackers who defaced the websites of key government agencies over the weekend to call for support for street protests against the pork barrel fund.

De Lima said the cybercrime division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been tapped to track down the hackers reportedly belonging to international activist network Anonymous.

“That should be investigated because as we all know, hacking disrupts public service,” she stressed.

De Lima explained that hacking is a criminal offense under Republic Act 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act), punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of P100,000.

The hackers could be prosecuted even without the controversial Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act), which has not been implemented by the government after it was stopped by the Supreme Court through a temporary restraining order (TRO) over questions on constitutionality.

Dozens of masked protesters marched to the Batasang Pambansa yesterday morning to denounce the misuse of public funds and called for the total abolition of the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers.

Superintendent Eleazar Matta, Quezon City Police District Station 6 commander, said around 80 demonstrators joined the “Million Mask March” that started around 9:30 a.m.

Matta said the protesters, who identified themselves as members of Anonymous Philippines, marched from Commonwealth Avenue in front of the Sandiganbayan to the Batasang Pambansa complex. – With Janvic Mateo