MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Nonday denied allegations of another data breach in its system. 

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said there was no recent hacking incident either in its website or social media accounts.

“Vinerify namin, kinounter check namin kanina pati yung sinasabi nung IT something na yun, negative po kahit, kahit DITC nag-coordinate na kami, negative po yung sinasabi. Vinerify na rin namin lahat yung social media pages, yung website ng Comelec etc., wala po, hindi po kami na-subject sa hacking,” Garcia said.

He said the commission has mobilized its IT personnel to make sure that its system is intact and secure.

“Maganda po yung ganito, maaring trophy sa kanila yan ‘pag naha-hack nila ang Comelec website, kasi nga pinakamadami nga kami na information pero yan ay paghahanda namin lalong lalo na sa mga darating na araw, pagka inilabas natin tama yung mga precinct finders, at the same time yung mga transmission ng results kinakailangan hack proof yun para mapatunayan natin na hindi nila kayang magalaw o gawan ng paraan yung system ng Commission on Elections,” Garcia explained.

Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary for Infostructure/Management, Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Ian Dy told ABS-CBN News it is closely in coordination with Comelec.

“We have sensors that actually collates reports of hacking sa government agency…and so kaninang umaga or was it last night - our sensors pick-up social media chatter na may nagke-claim nga raw na-hacked yung Comelec…tulad nung unang nai-report Johnson, wala rin kaming makitang indicators of  compromise,” Dy explained.

PRINTING OF BALLOTS 

The commission also announced it is targeting to finish the ballot printing by March 9 or 10.

Garcia said as of Monday, February 17, more than 43 million ballots have already been printed or about 43% of the ballot requirements for the midterm polls.

“Sa atin namang printing ng balota is almost 43% na yung na-imprenta natin so hopefully in the next few days ma-reach natin yung 50%. Mukhang makakapag-adjust kami ng katapusan ng printing hopefully mga March 9 or March 10 kung saka-sakali. Yung natitirang araw hanggapng April 14 - yun na lang yung araw para sa verification,” Garcia said.