PCG retakes X page control after hack

The contents of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) official page on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) suddenly disappear on Thursday morning, February 15, 2024. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard regained control of its X page (formerly Twitter) on Thursday after the site had been “compromised.”

“Good morning. As of 11:30 a.m., we are glad to announce that we have retrieved access [to] our official X (formerly Twitter) account with assistance from the X Support Team,” the PCG said in a statement.

“We have also strengthened our security measures to protect our account against security breaches,” it added.

Earlier, the PCG said that its X account had been “compromised.”

Posts on the PCG’s X page and its reply tabs were empty, although the “like” reactions were kept – however, most of the “likes” came from a particular account promoting cryptocurrency.

READ: PCG’s X page compromised, contents wiped out

Last Feb. 4, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the website of PCG and other government websites, were targeted by cyberattacks made from an internet protocol address traced to a location in China.

Upon learning this, the PCG said then that it has bolstered the security of its website.

Aside from this, the DICT also said that hackers whose IP addresses are from China also breached the system of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the DICT, and even President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s official website.

In response to this, the Chinese embassy said that Beijing firmly opposes all forms of cyber attacks under their law.

Also, the embassy slammed Philippine government officials and the media for what they call “highly irresponsible” and “malicious” remarks on the hacking incident.

“Some Filipino officials and media maliciously speculated about and groundlessly accused China of engaging in cyber attacks against the Philippines, even went as far as connecting these cyber attacks with the South China Sea disputes. Such remarks are highly irresponsible,” the embassy said in a statement on Feb. 5.

China claims the entire South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea, disregarding an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that effectively dismisses its sweeping claims.

The PCG is in the forefront of the regular rotation and resupply missions in the BRP Sierra Madre, a Navy outpost grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999 to assert the country’s claim in the sandbank.

The Rore has become one of the flashpoints of tension between Manila and Beijing.