Palace: 'Cyberwar' between PHL, Malaysian hackers 'counter-productive'

A Malacañang official on Monday described as “unnecessary and counter-productive” the online spillover of the ongoing conflict between a group of Filipinos and Malaysian security forces in Sabah. “Let us not resort to these avenues to make your opinions known on this particular issue,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing. At least one Philippine website and several Malaysian websites were hacked into on Sunday, March 3, and defaced with messages sympathetic to either side of the armed conflict. Valte reiterated the government's call for calm as she responded to questions about potential protests that might be spawned by the issue. “Ang iniiwasan po natin at this point, given the very sensitive and volatile situation there, is to avoid any further action or statement that may escalate it further,” Valte said, while agreeing that it is every Filipino’s right to peaceably assemble. “Karapatan po naman nila ‘yon, that is part of the democracy except that we ask that it be done in a peaceful manner,” she said. Meanwhile, Valte clarified that the government has not asked actor Robin Padilla—or any other third party—to intercede with the Kiram family, whose followers have engaged Malaysian police in a standoff in Sabah. “I am not aware that any agency has asked for his participation,” Valte said, adding that the government has had trouble dealing with the Kirams, who they said remain suspicious of emissaries sent by the administration. “Ang problema nga po is that even if you send them Cabinet officials, nagdududa pa po sila. Parang they say na hindi naman daw po opisyal,” Valte said, narrating how National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia was met with skepticism by the Kiram family.   “Marami nga pong nagtanong kung sino daw po si Secretary Garcia at bakit daw po siya ‘yung pinadala. He is the National Security Adviser. So siguro po, by that, nakita naman po natin din ‘yung the seriousness of the government in trying to find a peaceful resolution to this,” she said. — Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK, GMA News