Comelec downplays fears over poll system security 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday assured the public that the automated system that will be used in this year's elections is secure, after the poll body's official website was defaced late Sunday.

In an interview, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said it would be wrong to conclude that Sunday's incident showed Comelec's inability to safeguard the election system.

"Hindi 'yun tama sa tingin ko dahil unang-una, ang site na 'yun, that's meant to be accessible to the public. Meaning, hindi 'yan Fort Knox [a US Army facility], hindi 'yan ganoong katindi ang security kumpara doon sa proseso na alam mong kailangan mong i-secure come hell and high water," Jimenez said.

He also pointed out that the website and the election system are two different things.

"It's a difference between securing a grocery list in one hand and a list of commands to the Army. Sure, they're both important, and sure, you're gonna protect both of them, but are you gonna use as many resources protecting your grocery list as your orders in the Army? Siyempre hindi. It will be a question of what's more important to protect and how many resources you want to devote to that protection," Jimenez said.

Jimenez reiterated that the information found on the Comelec website, www.comelec.gov.ph, is "for public use."

"We understand na in this case, protection of the website is really for the purpose of the continuity of service to the public, na dapat tuloy-tuloy 'yung serbisyo sa publiko. Halimbawa, 'yung precinct finder, 'yung training videos, kailangan laging nandiyan. Hindi siya secure in the end na may mananakaw na impormasyon," he said.

As of posting time, features on the Comelec website, notably the online precinct finder, was still not functional, though the site was already back.

Tighter security for poll system

Jimenez said tighter security measures are in place in the voting system, adding the vote counting machine (VCM)—considered the "pillar" of the automated system—is a "standalone," which will make it difficult to hack.

He added that data are "encrypted" and shared to several "recipients."

"Mahirap i-hack 'yung system na standalone," Jimenez said. "Pangalawa, encrypted naman 'yung data natin. Gumagamit tayo ng virtual private network."

"'Yung data na binabato ng makina, binabato niya sa maraming recipients. So, sabihin na natin na na-hack mo 'yung isang recipient, paano kapag 'di mo na-hack 'yung iba? Magkakabukingan ngayon na may ginawa ka sa datos and that makes it, I guess, not profitable for anyone to try to access the system," he added.

He also pointed out that the Comelec website is different from the site where election results will be uploaded in May.

Help instead of 'dangling' threat

The Comelec also called on those who may be "knowledgable" in threats against the election system to approach them directly instead of "dangling" the fear before the public.

"Sa mga kababayan natin, especially doon sa mga may kaparaanan to know better, try to understand how the system works rather than preying on the fears of the unknown. Medyo mahirap naman 'yun. Medyo unfair naman 'yun," Jimenez said.

He added: "Kung merong maitutulong sila, meron silang alam na paraan para ma-hack 'yung transmission (system), sa tinging ko, instead of dangling that in front of everyone like some scare doll, they should just tell the Comelec that they have it. Constructive engagement siguro. With almost 40 days na lang to go before the elections, now is not the time to play coy. If you know something, tell the Comelec. Help us rather than scare the public." —KBK, GMA News