Hackers hit journalists' website

The website of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) was hacked on Monday evening and could not be accessed. 

NUJP Chairman Ryan Rosauro told GMA News Online the site was down by 8 p.m. and cannot be accessed even by the website's administrator.

He also said this is the first time the group's website was hacked.

"We do not know by whom but this we can say – whoever are responsible for this attack are enemies of press freedom and of free expression. They are vermin, narrow-minded, misbegotten souls who mistakenly believe that they can silence critical speech and thought in their desire to force people into accepting only one worldview – theirs," the group said in a statement issued by Rosauro.

The objective of the NUJP, which is an organization composed of about 1,500 members from different parts of the country and abroad, is to promote free expression and free press.

Rosauro added that the attack will not deter the group from its work.

"The independent Philippine press, the independent Filipino journalists, and the freedom-loving Filipino people will make sure of this, as we have done in the past and as we will do so again and again whenever basic rights and liberties are assaulted." — BAP, GMA News