House website taken down again 2 days after hacking

House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

“Suspicious and unusual activities” have forced the House of Representatives to once again take down its website.

“We regret to inform the public that the official website of the House of Representatives has been voluntarily taken offline once again,” read a statement Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 17 from House Secretary General Reginald Velasco.

“Despite our recent security enhancements, we have detected suspicious and unusual activities that necessitate further scrutiny,” he said.

“This action has been taken as a precautionary measure to double-check and reinforce the cybersecurity measures we have undertaken, ensuring no vulnerabilities remain,” added Velasco, who is the highest-ranked civilian official in the legislative chamber.

Last Sunday, Oct. 15 the House’s website, www.congress.gov.ph, was hacked and defaced. It was voluntarily taken offline by the House as a result.

On Monday, Oct. 16, Velasco admitted that the House cybersecurity protection was poor when compared to other agencies. The House website came back online the same day, but with restrictions.

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“Our primary concern is to guarantee the safety, integrity, and reliability of our digital platform for the citizens we serve,” he said.

“We understand the inconvenience this might cause and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we work diligently to address these concerns. Our commitment to transparency and open communication remains unwavering, and we will provide updates as soon as we have more information,” Velasco said. — Ellson Quismorio