MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are taking steps to secure government websites after cases of hacking were reported once more ahead of the oral arguments on Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said government is coming up with a plan to "strengthen the firewall or security of government websites."

There is also a plan to let government host websites of government agencies still being hosted by private entities.

Lacierda said the Official Gazette, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology, has not been "defaced" by hackers.
 
“As much as they have tried to attack OG (Official Gazette), it has never been defaced. Some government websites are hosted by private entities and there has been a suggestion to migrate their hosting to government. That’s being studied right now,” he said.
 
He said the National Bureau of Investigation has been able to identify hackers of government websites.  
 
"NBI has some people in mind already as to who launched the hacking into government websites. Let me check with NBI if there were some action taken as a result of being able to identify some of the personalities or individuals concerned,” he said.