MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it suspects an “ordinary hacker” was behind the defacing of its Facebook page, downplaying insinuations that the cybercrime was linked to tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.

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The PCG’s Facebook page was hacked earlier this month, the third time one of the agency’s online platforms was breached in recent weeks.

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“Wala pa po tayong matibay na pinanghahawakan kung sino ang maaaring gumawa nito… so far puro movie clips yung nilalagay niya,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilio said.

“Sa tingin namin isang ordinaryong nangha-hack lang ito at napagtuunan lang yung Facebook page ng Philippine Coast Guard,” he told state television PTV.

He noted that the agency has yet to recover its social media account.

When asked if the PCG thought that the hacking was linked to tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Balilio said: “Wala po tayong matibay na ebidensya para magkaroon ng ganiyang conclusion.”

“Maganda na hintayin natin yung investigation na ginagawa at hopefully ma-pinpoint natin sino gumagawa nito sa Philippine Coast Guard,” he said.

So far, the PCG has installed “parameters to protect its accounts” to prevent future breaches, he said.