Hackers deface Facebook profile of PHL-based Reuters correspondent

Hackers defaced on Thursday morning the Facebook profile of Manila-based journalist Manny Mogato, using the account to spread propaganda in favor of President Rodrigo Duterte.

His profile picture and cover photo were also changed to say "Duterte is my President."

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said it will report the hacking to the government's special task force on media security.

"We are bringing the matter before the special task force on media security," NUJP chair Ryan Rosauro said in a text message to GMA News Online.

The task force was created by Duterte in October in his first administrative order to look into threats against of the members of the press. 

Illegal access such as hacking of social media accounts, or "access to the whole or any part of a computer system without right," is punishable between six to 12 years improsonment or a fine of at least P200,000 or both under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. 

Rosauro said it fears the hacking of Mogato's profile could lead to physical injuries against the Reuters correspondent if the problem is not addressed.

"We are worried this could graduate into a physical attack versus Mogato if not addressed appropriately," Rosauro said.

Mogato, together with fellow Reuters correspondent Karen Lema, was also the subject of threats last October after writing a story about the pronouncements of Duterte likening himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. 

In the speech, Duterte said he would "be happy" to kill three million drug addicts similar to the three million Jews massacred by Hitler.

Duterte's remarks quickly drew criticism from Jewish groups and the United Nations, which prompted the president to apologize to the Jewish community in the Philippines.

The NUJP also issued a statement then expressing its worries over the "continued vilification" of the media in the country. 

"We are worried over the continued vilification of media and attempts to lay the predicate to muzzle freedom of the press and of expression," it said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/JST, GMA News