Gov't sites hacked to protest 'misencounter'

MANILA, Philippines — A collective of hackers identifying as Anonymous Philippines claimed that 20 government sites were defaced Saturday to protest against the so-called misencounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The local arm of international hacking body Anonymous claimed having attacked the following webpages, which include microsites of the Department of Trade and Industry and local government units.

    http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph/
    http://spo.bislig.gov.ph/
    http://pmis.bislig.gov.ph/
    http://cmis.bislig.gov.ph/
    http://lib.bislig.gov.ph/
    http://bislig.gov.ph/
    http://drhtagum.gov.ph/
    http://opms.dti.gov.ph/
    http://spda.gov.ph/
    http://www.butuan.gov.ph/
    http://pricewatch.dti.gov.ph/
    http://www.niccep.dti.gov.ph/
    http://paoaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/
    http://braulioedujali.gov.ph/
    http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/images/
    http://www.tesda11.com/
    http://omb.gov.ph/ombnew/
    http://www.zamboangadelsur.gov.ph/
    http://libungan.gov.ph/
    http://midsayap.gov.ph/

The hackers replaced the webpages' content to post a message expressing their condolences to families and colleagues of the 44 members of the police's Special Action Force slain by Moro rebels in southern Philippines last Sunday.

"It has come to our attention that 44 elite cops died in a "misencounter" with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday. Sa pamilya ng mga nasawi, ang aming pakikiramay," they said.

They also slammed President Benigno Aquino III for his absence in the arrival ceremony for the remains of the fallen elite policemen on Thursday at the Villamor Air Base.

To President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino: Brave men have died fighting for your reign. And now that they need "just recognition for their deeds" you were not there to honor them. Hindi pa sapat na pambabastos ninyo by not attending the rites at Villamor Air Base, late ka pa ngayon sa necrological service! RESPETO AT HUSTISYA ang isinisigaw ng taong-bayan sa mga binitiwan mong pananalita bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas! We are watching you Mr. President. EXPECT US.

Anonymous Philippines recently hacked Chinese websites to express indignation over Beijing's increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea. The hackers were first recognized as a group when they hacked multiple government sites in 2012 in protest against the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.