By Vito Barcelo, Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
Malacañang and at least four presidential candidates on Tuesday expressed concern over the alleged hacking of the servers of the Commission on Elections, an allegation that the poll body immediately denied.
“We will await any update to be pronounced by the Comelec regarding this. Of course, we are concerned,” acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez on Monday said while the poll body is probing the allegations of a data breach, the information that was reportedly stolen by hackers does not exist yet in their systems.
“The configuration files – which includes usernames and PINs – have not yet been completed. This calls into question the veracity of the hacking claim,” Jimenez said.
The Manila Bulletin article claimed hackers were able to download files that included, among others, usernames and PINs of vote-counting machines (VCMs).
At least four presidential aspirants – Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – have raised concern over the reported hacking.
“We ask the Commission to immediately take steps to ensure that this, or any other similar incident would not affect the integrity of the May 2022 elections,” Robredo said in a joint statement she issued with her running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
“We have to know if the Comelec has a plan in case our automated polling system is compromised,” Pacquiao said.
Lacson called on Comelec to allow an independent third party to look into the alleged online attack of its system.
“The Comelec should clarify the veracity of the hacking incident and be forthright with its findings. More importantly, it should be open to letting experts and related stakeholders help strengthen the security system, including our cybersecurity experts and those of other aspirants. Only through transparency and accountability can we guarantee the integrity of the upcoming elections,” Lacson said.
Pacquiao said Congress should exercise its oversight powers in relation to Republic Act 8436 or the Automated Election Law.
“This is not the first time that the Comelec has been hacked and this shows very serious security flaws on the poll body’s computer system,” the senator said.
Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez said they are observing the development “with prudence.”
“We do not intend to immediately jump into any conclusion that could lead to undermining or discrediting the preparations and the conduct of the May 9 general elections,” Rodriguez said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) can extend assistance to Comelec.
“We’ll let the Comelec finish its own internal probe. If a wider investigation is found necessary and NBI assistance would be useful, we’d gladly oblige,” Guevarra added.