The Aquino Government on Critics and Hackers: A Response

The Philippine Government has issued a statement regarding the cybercrime law it has passed and signed (read here). In the statement it reassures its citizen that it would not violate their constitutional rights, it is open to discourse, it has not penalized anyone, in fact notes that it has been the victim of hacking and calls on their critics to condemn the acts of anonymous

Much as it is appreciated that the Government still respects the constitutional right of the individuals and as much as their assurances are there. The fact is assurances is not the law and neitheir is the Implementing Rules and Regulations not the law. Assurances evaporates as officials change and the IRR can be re-tooled. The Law needs to be changed.

Much as it is appreciated and much welcomed that the Government is open to dialogue but is this not what we expect of Government? Still a lot of what the Government labelled as critics would be more than willing to join in discourse. Just set the date and we will be there.

Much as we appreciate that no one has been penalized it must be remembered that this just day one of the law. And what is much dreaded is the ambiguity that in effect makes the law a sword of Damocles hanging over our collective head.

Among others I have been consistent in not condoning acts of hacking. As a blogger i am quite familiar with what it can do.But more importantly i condemn it because it deprives a person of access to information and forum for discussion. In fact, it is the twin sister of this present cybercrime law if uncorrected will do the same thing in the wrong hands.

The Government must not forget what brought this about. The enactment of a law that jeopardizes the constitutional right of the people. The Government must not forget what brought this about is the perception of stonewalling and indifference to the different pleas of the People. The Government must not forget the thing that cause all of this about is the Cybercrime Law. The goverment must not forget that because the People will surely not.