Comelec to deploy security forces in data centers

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will deploy security forces in their data centers on May 12 to ensure safety and transparency for Eleksyon 2025.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Friday said a multi-level security system will be maintained in their three data centers in Makati and Parañaque, which also house the election servers for the May polls.

"Mayroon ditong members ng Armed Forces at Philippine National Police," Garcia told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting between the Comelec and election stakeholders in Makati.

(We will deploy members of the AFP and PNP.)

"Walang basta-basta makapasok sa building na ito nang hindi sila naka-record sa Comelec list, lalo na sa mga floors kung nasaan ang ating mga servers," he said.

(No one can just enter the building who is not part of the Comelec list.)

Garcia met with representatives and IT experts from the media, citizens' arms, majority party, and minority party in one of the Comelec data centers in Makati to discuss protocols and brief them about the new automated election systems (AES) features.

They also conducted a walkthrough of the data center.

“Gusto namin samantalahin ang pagkakataon na ito kung saan kausap namin ang lahat ng IT people ng lahat ng entities, kasama ang media entities, na magkaroon kami ng protocol ang pag-release ng results, paano kung di makatanggap o late makatanggap ng results,” he said.

(We want to take this opportunity to set up protocols for several scenarios, including the release of results and what will happen if they fail to receive the copy of the results.)

“Maganda, may protocol tayo para hindi nagkalituhan, hindi nami-misinform ang kababayan natin, hindi nagkakaroon ng fake news o kulang pala ang bino-broadcast,” he added.

(That way, we won’t be confused during the election day, and we can prevent the spread of misinformation or fake news.)

Comelec previously said it is expecting faster and more transparent transmission of election results in the May polls as it contracted the joint venture of iOne and Ardent for the Secure Electronic Transmission Services (SETs).

South Korean firm Miru Systems Inc. will supply the automated counting machines (ACMs) while the joint venture will provide the equipment to reconcile the data from the telecommunication companies before they are sent to the five citizens arms of the Comelec, the majority and minority parties, the municipal or city board of canvassers, and the poll body's national server. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.