MANILA, Philippines — Pinangangambahan ngayon ng ilang grupo ang diumano'y pagkakakompromiso ng systems ng Commission on Elections (Comelec), bagay na maaaring lumikha ng duda sa kredibilidad at pagkaantala ng halalang 2022.
Lunes kasi nang sabihin ni Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez na bineberipika pa nila ang obserbasyon ng Manila Bulletin Technews team tungkol sa "pagkakakompromismo" ng system ng poll body, dahilan para posibleng ma-hack ang usernames at PINs ng vote-counting machines.
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"The credibility of the coming elections will be put into question if this issue is not swiftly, independently and efficiently probed and addressed," wika ni Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, Martes, dahilan para manawagan sila ng imbestigasyon ng Konggreso.
"This incident seems to be deja vu of the 2016 Comeleaks hacking. Is this a repeat of that incident or this designed to destroy the credibility of Comelec for a no election scenario?"
Taong 2016 lang nang ma-hack ang opisyal na website ng Comelec isang buwan bago ang eleksyon, dahilan para ma-leak ang database ng poll body online.
Nangyayari ngayon ang isyu ng 2022 "hacking" ilang araw matapos manawagan ang administration party na PDP-Laban na dapat pang pahabain ang panahon ng filing ng certificate of candidacy (COC) na siyang magde-delay sa May 9 elections.
Umaasa naman sina Zarate na makikipagtulungan sa posibleng probe ang Technews team ng Manila Bulletin tungkol sa nakapansin nilang hacking incident noong ika-8 ng Enero, Sabado.
"There are many questions that need to be answered as well as the technical aspect of the supposed hacking and the extent of the data that the hackers were able to compromise," panapos ng kinatawan sa isang pahayag.
Mananalo mawawalan ng kredibilidad?
Ayon naman sa kampo ng standard bearers at 2022 running mates na sina Bise Presidente Leni Robredo at Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, nakakaalarma ang balita ng hacking ng Coemelec servers, bagay na agad-agad daw dapat makumpirma para malaman ang laki ng idudulot nitong pinsala.
"We ask the Commission to immediately take steps to ensure that this, or any other similar incident would not affect the integrity of the May 2022 elections," ani Robredo at Pangilinan.
"The welfare of the people, more than the candidates, is paramount. This election is for their future and they should not have any doubt about the process and its result."
Kwestyon sa hacking claims
Kasalukuyang vina-validate pa ng Comelec ang mga alegasyon sa artikulo ng Manila Bulletin. Sa kabila nito, pinagdududahan nila ito lalo na't hindi pa raw kumpleto ang configuration files na naglalaman ng usernames at PINs.
"With no independent verification that a hack has indeed taken place, one thing immediately stands out: the article alleges that the hackers were able to 'download files that included, among others, usernames and PINS of vote-counting machines (VCM),'" ani Jimenez sa isang statement.
"The fact, however, is that such information still does not exist in COMELEC systems simply because the configuration files - which includes usernames and PINs - have not yet been completed. This calls into question the veracity of the hacking claim."
Bukod pa riyan, kulang-kulang din daw ang ibinigay na patunay ng Manila Bulletin. Tinitiyak naman ng Comelec sa publiko ang buo nitong pagsunod sa Data Privacy Act, maliban pa sa pakikipagtulungan sa National Privacy Commission.
Iniimbitahan ngayon nina Jimenez ang nagsulat ng artikulo ng Manila Bulletin para maglinaw sa mga alegasyon, lalo na sa "verification" na kanila raw isinagawa.
"Considering that 'news' like this could potentially damage the credibility of the elections, the COMELEC stands ready to pursue all available remedies against those who, either deliberately or otherwise, undermine the integrity of the electoral process," sabi pa ng Comelec official kahapon.