Ka Leody, Walden doubt Imee's Smartmatic breach claim, say public should be vigilant

The tandem of presidential and vice-presidential candidates Leody de Guzman and Walden Bello on Friday expressed doubts on the claims of Senator Imee Marcos that a security breach occurred in the operations of Smartmatic ahead of the May 2022 polls.

"Maraming play eh, maraming malikot at maraming pamba-block na ginagawa... Parang gustong palabasin na sila ay pinagpaplanuhang dayain. Baka naman 'yan ay in reverse. Kaya maging mapagbantay tayong lahat, kasama ang media, dito sa mga move ng mga political dynasty at mga trapo sa eleksyong ito dahil ang talo dito ang ating mga mamamayan," De Guzman said in an online forum.

(Lots of play, lots of mischief and a lot of blocking ... It seems they would like to show that they are being cheated on. Perhaps that's the reverse. Let us all be vigilant, including the media, with the moves of political dynasties and trapos in this election because the people would be the loser in the end.)

"Pag-aralan. I think the press should be the ones to look into the statements, lalo na 'pag galing sa Marcoses 'yan (especially if they are coming from the Marcoses). Because you never trust what the Marcoses say. Let's not take what she says at face value. The press and others should investigate this claim," Bello, meanwhile, said.

"If Imee Marcos says something, you need to think twice, thrice, four times before you accept the truth, if it is true or not. Kailangang kailangan talaga ma-investigate 'yan (It really needs to be investigated), and why is she saying it? Meron bang personal interest diyan (Is there a personal interest involved)?" she added.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation, said a security breach occured with the operations of Smartmatic.

"There indeed was a security breach in the Smartmatic operation that appears to be clear," she said during a media briefing Thursday after their second hearing on various issues involving the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Marcos claimed data regarding Smartmatic, including personal information, ledgers, photos of their office, contact persons in the Comelec, might have been hacked by a syndicate group.

Comelec said it would wait for the report from the National Bureau of Investigation as regards the alleged infringement, while Smartmatic, the poll technology provider for the May 2022 automated elections, denied Marcos' allegations.

GMA News Online sought the comment of Senator Marcos and the camp of presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. but they have yet to reply, as of posting time.—AOL, GMA News