MANILA - Reina Mercedes, Isabela vice mayoral candidate Atty. Jeryll Harold Respicio has explained his side after learning that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed charges against him of violating the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.

Respicio earlier posted on social media allegedly how to hack the automated counting machines (ACMs) for the 2025 midterm polls.

Respicio told ABS-CBN News that what he did was just to inform the commission about the "vulnerability" of ACMs to hacking.

”In that video, ang pinag-usapan ko ay yung vulnerability ng ACM ng Comelec. Ang point ko was - kapag connected sa internet yung voting machine before mag-print ng election return, puwedeng dayain yung resulta ng eleksyon,” he said.

According to Respicio, he just learned about the complaint against him.

He said he will face the charges and that he ready for any consequences.

“Dito masusubok yung kalayaan natin bilang mga Pilipino…hello Comelec freedom of speech ito, ito lamang ay para itama yung mga kahinaan ng gobyerno,” Respicio said.

Respicio said he is confident that what he did was just right to inform Comelec and the public.

“Ako confident akong magsalita ng ganitong bagay dahil isa akong certified public accountant, maliban sa isang abogado, nagtrabaho dati ako bilang IT auditor sa Deloitte Philippines…so naiintindihan ko lahat ng information systems at lahat ng computer systems na katulad nito,” Respicio told ABS-CBN News.