KWF's Facebook page falls prey to hackers; agency apologizes

The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) on Friday apologized to the public after an inappropriate picture of a woman was posted on its official Facebook page, saying it was a victim of hacking.

“Sa amin pong mga tagasubaybay, lalo na po ang magulang ng mga amin pong mag-aaral, ang atin pong mga guro, at lahat po ng nagmamahal sa kultura at wika, humihingi po kami ng paumanhin at pangunawa sa nakakalungkot po na balitang ito,” KWF Director General Marites Barrios-Taran said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(To our followers, especially parents of our students, our teachers, and everyone who loves culture and language, we are asking for your forgiveness and understanding.)

“Gusto po namin kayong i-assure na kami po ay gagawa ng lahat ng hakbang upang hindi na ito mauulit muli at mapanagot po ang mga may sala,” she added.

(We want to assure you that we are taking every step we can to ensure that this will not happen again and to hold the individual behind this accountable.)

This came after a photo of a scantily clad woman appeared on the "my story" part of KWF's Facebook page at 9 p.m. on Thursday. The photo was still there on Friday morning.

“Hindi po namin maalis. Isang picture ng napakaganda pero sexy na babae at medyo hindi po nararapat na naroon sa aming My Day,” Barrios-Taran said.

(We can’t remove it. It was a picture of a beautiful but sexy woman that shouldn’t be in our story.)

Barrios-Taran said they received numerous messages expressing alarm over the photo.

“Marami po ang nag message sa amin at sila po ay nabahala, natural. Ngunit, nais po namin ipaalam na kami rin po ay talagang nabahala rito,” she said.

(We received many messages expressing concern, naturally. But we also want to inform the public that we were also very alarmed over this.)

According to her, the KWF is already coordinating with the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology regarding the matter.

“Lahat po ginagawa na namin para sana ma-take down. Sapagkat alam niyo ang My Day nasa loob po yan ng isang araw ay talagang tuloy-tuloy na nagpapakita sa iyong ano,” she said.

(We are doing everything to take it down. Because as you know, a My Day lasts for a whole day so it will continuously appear to the public.)

Barrios-Taran said they may meet with the agencies on Friday afternoon. —KBK, GMA Integrated News