Comelec denies hacking claim

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia  INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday denied that its website and social media pages were hacked.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia made the comment after a hacker group known as the “Philippine Cyber Mafia” claimed that it leaked several data from the poll body.

“We verified it, we counterchecked it earlier, negative,” Garcia said in an ambush interview when asked to react to the data leak claims.

“We also verified the social media pages and websites of Comelec; we were not subjected to hacking,” he added.

Garcia also said the poll body already coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which also denied the hacking claim.

READ: NBI nabs alleged cybercrime group selling hacked data from Comelec

On its Facebook page, the hacker group on Monday unveiled their review of the alleged data leak from Comelec’s website.

Cybersecurity advocacy group Deep Web Konek said the leak allegedly contains overseas Filipino voters’ details, political parties’ information, and other personally identifiable information.

“Deep Web Konek was alerted by a post from Philippine Cyber Mafia earlier today, claiming responsibility for the breach. The post showcased an image containing what appeared to be leaked data files with names, locations, and other details. Additionally, the post mentioned a ‘review’ of the alleged data leak, hinting at further disclosures,” the group’s statement reads.

While he denied the hacking claim, Garcia said the Comelec is still preparing for such a possibility with the unveiling of its precinct finder in the coming days.

Garcia also said the Comelec would ensure that the transmission of results would be “hackproof.”