‘Malicious videos’ posted on PCG Facebook page

An “unknown entity” gained access to the Philippine Coast Guard’s official Facebook page on Monday night.

According to PCG spokesperson Coast Guard Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, two malicious short videos were posted on the said Facebook page. 

“However, when the [Coast Guard Public Affairs Service] tried to delete the videos, the service was alerted with a forced switch account notification.”

Based on the initial diagnostic of the CGPAS, the unknown entity did not leave any digital trace on the official email address and the mobile phone used  to establish a security key as an additional layer of online security protection. 

The CGPAS was conducting a strategic communication plan workshop when the unauthorized access was made.

Its last access and posting on the page was at 10 a.m. while covering the Atimonan maritime incident of the Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog. 

“As of 6:45PM, the CGPAS continues to diagnose via the official Facebook account, Tanod Baybayin, as well as the official CGPAS email address, cgpao@coastguard.gov.ph,” the PCG said in a statement.

On 15 February 2024, the CGPAS monitored and resolved the security breach of an unknown entity on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. 

In January 2024, the PCG received an alert from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) regarding the monitored hacking on the PCG website. But upon website review, the CGPAS confirmed that no hacking activity reported on the PCG website. —NB, GMA Integrated News