By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The mayor of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental has tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after her social media account was hacked on Thursday night, February 3.

In a post made on the official Facebook page of Sipalay City government, they informed the public to disregard any communication or request from the Facebook account named “Gina Montilla,” the Facebook account of Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina Montilla-Lizares.

They said the mayor’s Facebook account is allegedly being used by a hacker asking for money or donations.

Based on initial reports, several individuals were already victimized by the hacker, with one sending P15,000 in cash believing that it was Montilla-Lizares who was asking for help.

Another official, an executive assistant of a local government unit in Negros Occidental, was also victimized, sending as much as P27,000 in cash.

The city government added that they are now conducting an investigation to trace the suspects behind the hacking and asked the NBI’s Cyber Crime Division to also look into the matter./DGB, WDJ