PPCRV: We have no access to Comelec server, hash codes

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Thursday clarified it only receives data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and has no access to the hash codes used for the 2016 elections.

PPCRV communications head Anna De Villa Singson made the clarification following allegations by the camp of Vice Presidential bet and Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that an accredited observer at the PPCRV—where the Comelec's transparency server is housed—had claimed that a new computer command had been introduced to the server.

The Marcos camp however admitted it was uncertain how the supposed new hash code would affect the canvassing of election results.

On Thursday afternoon, the Comelec admitted that a "cosmetic" script was added to the system that allowed for the "ñ" character to be used. The poll body assured, however, that the script in no way affected the vote tallies.

Singson said that the transparency server housed at the Pope Pious XII Center on UN Avenue in Manila is owned by the Comelec and by counting machines provider Smartmatic—along with all the hash code, scripts, and programs used in it.

She said the Comelec, and not the PPCRV, should address all queries related to the hash codes and programs in the computers used for the elections.

"Ask the Comelec regarding the hash code issue. Hindi namin program iyan. We cannot introduce any changes to that system," said Singson.

Singson said the transparency server is protected by "super high security," adding that at least two passes are needed for an individual to enter the server room.

She added that only 10 political and media organizations are allowed to be connected to the Comelec transparency and mirror server. These include the PPCRV, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Liberal Party, the United Nationalist Alliance, Nacionalista People's Coalition, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, and GMA Network, among others.

"All 10 of us are recipients from the Comelec server and that is not owned by PPCRV. Maybe confused na mga tao because that [transparency server] is in PPCRV," she said.

Singson also clarified that the "new script" did not come from any of their computers.

"Tignan niyo lang ho yung screenshot. Nandun naman ho yung username ng computer kung saan nanggaling ang screenshot. Hindi ho galing sa PPCRV," Singson said on Balitanghali.

She added that the PPCRV were merely receipients of data from the Comelec's servers.

To transfer data from these servers, she said, they must use flash drives, since wireless connections were forbidden in order to avoid compromises in the system. — With Rie Takumi/TJD, GMA News