Ka Leody calls for full transparency amid Comelec alleged data hacking

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Leody “Ka Leody” de Guzman on Wednesday called for full transparency over the alleged hacking of Commission on Elections (Comelec) data for May 2022 polls.

De Guzman issued the call after the Manila Bulletin report claiming that upon its verification, hackers breached the Comelec system on Saturday and downloaded usernames and personal identification numbers of vote-counting machines.

“Nanawagan ako sa Comelec ng full transparency at ilabas sa publiko ang lahat ng detalye ng mga nakumpromisong inpormasyon at papaano ito nangyari kahit na ginagarantiyahan ito ng mismong Comelec at pribadong kumpanyang Pro V&V,” he said in a statement.

(I called on the Comelec for full transparency and to release to the public all the details of the compromised information and how it happened even though it was guaranteed by the Comelec itself and private company Pro V&V.)

De Guzman also urged the poll body to strengthen their security system to prevent data breach ahead of the upcoming elections. 

“Tandaan natin na hindi ito ang unang pagakakataon nangyari ito mula nung nagshift tayo sa automated elections,” he added.

(Let us remember that this is not the first time this has happened since we shifted to automated elections.)

The Comelec said it is validating a report that hackers downloaded 60 gigabytes of data from its systems—a hack that is said could compromise the integrity of Eleksyon 2022.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the authors of the report had been invited to shed light on their allegations, “particularly with regard to the ‘verification’ they claim to have carried out.”

He said the Comelec has assured the public of its “full and scrupulous compliance with the Data Privacy Act, as well as its continuing cooperation with the National Privacy Commission.”

Meanwhile, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) is investigating the reported Commission on Elections (Comelec) data hacking, saying the poll body should also probe the incident and submit the result of its investigation to the NPC by January 21. — RSJ, GMA News