Comelec probes veracity of ‘hacking’ report

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MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is checking reports that its systems have been hacked.

“With no independent verification that a hack has indeed taken place, one thing immediately stands out: the article alleges that the hackers were able to ‘download files that included, among others, usernames and PINS (personal identification numbers) of vote-counting machines,’” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement late Monday, referring to the report published by a newspaper about the supposed hacking.

“The fact, however, is that such information still does not exist in Comelec systems simply because the configuration files – which includes usernames and PINs – have not yet been completed.”

However, Jimenez said that checking the veracity of the report is a must.

“This calls into question the veracity of the hacking claim. As for the rest of the allegations made, please note that the article offers scant substantiation for its assertions despite claiming that the authors had ‘verified that there was an ongoing hack.’ Indeed, the article does not even offer proof of such verification,” he added.

He also guaranteed the public of the poll body’s full and scrupulous compliance with the Data Privacy Act, including the continuing cooperation with the National Privacy Commission.

Simultaneously, Jimenez invited the authors to shed light on their claims, notably the “verification” they assert to have conducted.

“Considering that ‘news’ like this could potentially damage the credibility of the elections, the Comelec stands ready to pursue all available remedies against those who, either deliberately or otherwise, undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” he said.

He assured that the poll body would continue its efforts to verify the claims mentioned in the article.