Anonymous Philippines defaces govt websites, promotes Nov 5 protest

(Updated 3:30 p.m.) A Philippine hacker group claiming ties with the hacktivist collective Anonymous defaced early Sunday several government websites, and called on the public to support a protest at the Batasang Pambansa on November 5.

The group is known for wearing Guy Fawkes masks, which originated from the character named V from the Alan Moore comic book V for Vendetta. In both the comic book and the movie, the character attacked government institutions to inspire England, then under a fascist rule, to revolt.

Hacker group Anonymous Philippines posted on its Facebook page a list of the sites it defaced on Sunday. These included:

• the Office of the Ombudsman,
• the Philippine Embassy in Seoul,
• the Insurance Commission,
• the Optical Media Board, and
• the Sugar Regulatory Administration

Also on the list of hacked sites were:

"We apologize for this inconvenience, but this is the only easiest way we could convey our message to you,” the hackers said in a message posted on the defaced websites.

“The government, in many ways, has failed its Filipino citizens,” the hackers added. “We have been deprived of things which they have promised to give; what our late heroes have promised us to give.”

They then called on a November 5 protest march outside the Batasan Pambansa gates. "(L)et us march our way to freedom - a freedom from the shackles of the Government.”

A tweet was sent to the GMA News Twitter account on Sunday, saying:

@Andy_h1n4c21m

Dear @gmanews, maraming pang Website ang mada-Down sa mga susunod na araw. PH Government, ITS TOO LATE TO EXPECT US #AnonymousPH — Pia Faustino, with Rie Takumi and Audrey Domasian /DVM/LBG, GMA News