Bureau of Customs website hacked

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday reported its official website has been hacked by “unscrupulous individuals” in an attempt to derail the computerization of the bureau’s programs.

“Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said that the incident is an attempt by criminals to derail the computerization program of the bureau designed to promote efficiency, transparency and eradicate graft and corruption,” the BOC said in an emailed statement.

The BOC Public Information Office (PIO) told GMA News Online they learned of the incident on Monday, June 24, after it was reported by the Management Information System and Technology Group (MISTG). Further details were not immediately available.

A quick check on customs.gov.ph, showed that that the website was still not available as of 12:00 noon on Tuesday, June 25. A link to the official Philippine government website was instead posted.

According to the BOC, its website is hosted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). “The Bureau has already coordinated with the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH) under the Cybersecurity Bureau of DICT.”

“CERT-PH is mandated to provide pro-active government countermeasures to address and anticipate all domestic and transnational incidents affecting the Philippine cyberspace and any cybersecurity threats to the country,” it added.

In 2016, former President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) to modernize the BOC’s facilities, procedures, and overall operations.

“The BOC just recently launched six information systems projects and these systems are secured and working as expected,” it said.

“BOC assures the public that the e2m computer system of the BOC remains intact and secure and that there is no disruption in the operations of the Bureau,” it added. —VDS, GMA News