News Roundup 21 June 2024
Jun 21, 2024 • 5 min Read
AFP urges responsible behavior after editor tagged in hacking its site | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday is urging those involved in the hacking of its website allegedly at the behest of a newspaper editor to be “responsible” and stop their “cyber aggressions.”
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, who is also a cybersecurity expert, remarked as the National Bureau of Investigation arrested three individuals who were involved in hacking private and government websites — including AFP and the National Security Council (NSC) — as well as banks and Facebook accounts.
One of the hackers is a data officer for a media outlet, who alleged that the IT editor of a media organization allegedly ordered him to hack websites to use as content for his column, news articles, and social media platforms.
“We urge [them] to cease cyber aggressions and engage in responsible behavior in the digital sphere,” Padilla said in a statement.
Padilla said the AFP is also ready to cooperate with relevant government agencies in countering these threats through coordinated efforts, intelligence sharing, and advanced technological measures.
Full Story at: AFP urges responsible behavior as editor tagged in hacking its site (inquirer.net)
DICT to assist NBI in filing cases against hackers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Friday that it will assist the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in filing cases against people suspected of hacking private and government websites.
According to the DICT in a statement, it will help law enforcement agencies apprehend suspected cybercriminals.
“We will assist our colleagues from the NBI as their technical consultants and help them build their case against these suspected individuals,” the DICT said in a statement.
On Friday, the NBI arrested a person who is suspected to be behind the hacking of the pages of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Security Council.
The suspect, who is associated with the Manila Bulletin, pointed to his editor Art Samaniego as the one who was allegedly ordering him to hack the pages.
Full Story at: DICT to assist NBI in filing cases against hackers (inquirer.net)
Alice Guo faces human trafficking complaint | PHILSTAR.COM – In a press briefing on Friday, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) chairperson and Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said that multiple pieces of evidence have come out justifying the case, such as her application of [letter of no objection] from the local government and her involvement with the lesser company.
“Among the other evidence is her name appearing in several documents in the POGO compound,” Ty said.
Ty added that they have also started to process the immigration lookout bulletin order against Guo, which does not prevent the individual from leaving but directs the Bureau of Immigration to be on the lookout for them.
Those facing the complaint include former Technology and Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan and 12 other Chinese nationals who held positions at the Zun Yuan Technology Inc., Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. and Baofu Corporation, according to the press briefer provided to reporters.
Benjamin Samson, IACAT prosecutor, said that they have found enough evidence that shows the three companies are part of a “grand conspiracy” to commit labor trafficking.
“In one of the corporations, we found a document wherein the name of Mr. Dennis Cunanan appeared. After piecing together the pieces of evidence, we concluded and we decided that he is part of the grand conspiracy to commit labor trafficking,” he added.
On June 3, Guo was placed on preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman for up to six months in connection to the graft charges filed against her by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Full Story at: Alice Guo faces human trafficking complaint | Philstar.com
Philippines says China sea confrontation does not invoke US defense pact | PHILSTAR.COM –MANILA, Philippines — A South China Sea confrontation this week, in which the Chinese coast guard personnel brandished weapons and rammed Philippine naval vessels, does not trigger Manila’s mutual defense pact with the United States, a spokesperson for President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday.
“We are not yet ready to consider this as an armed attack,” executive secretary Lucas Bersamin told reporters when asked if Manila would ask Washington to honour the 1951 treaty.
The pact requires both parties to come to the other’s defense in case of an “armed attack” against vessels, aircraft, military and coast guard anywhere in the Pacific theatre, which Washington says includes the South China Sea.
Monday’s clash saw Chinese coast guard sailors brandishing knives, an axe and other weapons as they stopped a Philippine navy attempt to resupply a Filipino garrison on a derelict warship, seizing guns and damaging other equipment.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the clash, in which the Chinese coast guard confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment including guns, according to the Philippine military.
Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a “professional and restrained” way and blamed Manila for the confrontation, alleging the Philipines had been trying “to sneak in building materials, but also tried to smuggle in military equipment”.
The clash was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the disputed area.
The Sierra Madre warship was deliberately grounded atop Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
Full Story at: Philippines says China sea confrontation does not invoke US defense pact | Philstar.com
