Tag: Comelec

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Lacson Welcomes NPC Probe into Alleged Comelec ‘Hack’

Senator and Partido Reporma Chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson welcomes the National Privacy Commission’s investigation into the alleged “hacking” and data breach at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Lacson also instructed his in-house cyber-security team to cooperate with the NPC investigation and share what leads it may have gathered.

“Mainam na sabihin nating may ibang body na nag-imbestiga… Mahalaga talagang tingnan natin ito, get to the bottom of this issue para talagang maliwanagan (It is good that the NPC is investigating this. It is critical that we get to the bottom of this issue so all of us will be enlightened),” Lacson said in an interview on DZME radio Wednesday afternoon.

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Lacson: Ensuring Integrity of May Polls is Top Priority Amid Reported Comelec ‘Hacking’

While the Commission on Elections and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are still investigating the veracity of claims that the Comelec’s servers were hacked, all stakeholders must make sure that the integrity of the May 9 polls will not be compromised.

Senator and Partido Reporma Chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson emphasized this as he said the elections are the strongest and clearest manifestation of democracy in the Philippines where the people’s will is supreme.

“Ang eleksyon ang pinakamalapit at pinakamalakas na representation ng demokrasya sa Pilipinas, kasi isang araw lang yan na hari ang tao (Elections are the strongest representation of democracy in the Philippines, because for one day, the people are clearly the rulers),” Lacson said in an interview on DZAR radio Tuesday afternoon.

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On the Reported Hacking of the Comelec’s Servers

While only the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) can officially confirm or deny if such hacking indeed occurred, our in-house Comelec-accredited cyber-security team is currently conducting its own investigation given their limited accessibility, after I asked them to exert whatever effort to get initial information.

Finding out who was/were responsible is already material information just to establish the motive and who will benefit from the alleged hacking. Meantime, we have to await the response of the author/s who said they will show proof to substantiate their hacking allegations.

That said, 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.

Our elections on May 9 could not have come at a more critical time. This is not just about the individual candidates, but about upholding our democracy which, if the hacking turns out to be true, is gravely being threatened.

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On Reported Poll-Rigging Scams

It is true that there are con artists claiming they can manipulate the election system for a fee. Past automated elections have created this impression.

Sad to say, the so-called “Meet-me Room” that was put in place during the past two or three national elections – which some sectors fear could be a venue where poll results could be tinkered with – cast doubt on the integrity of the automated elections.

While it goes without saying that candidates should not fall for this scam, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should face the challenge through utmost transparency.

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On the Comelec’s Plans for a Hybrid Debate

At least hybrid, hindi lang virtual. Our experiences in our Senate hearings and even sessions tell us that there are many limitations, not to mention technical problems, pag purely virtual or online ang debate.

For one, iba pa rin ang physically engaged ang mga kandidato, lalo na sa isang debate na inaabangan ng mga Pilipino para makilatis nila nang husto kung sino ba ang iboboto nila upang mamuno sa bansa – kasama na ang demeanor o kilos ng bawat presidential candidate.

Notwithstanding, ensuring safety measures must be our primary concern on political debates and similar gatherings under the New Normal.

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