Hacking, count accuracy issues, raised in embassy briefing on first internet voting in Madrid

By Jeona Castro

Contributor

Madrid, Spain - The Filipino community in Madrid expressed concerns over the security of the new online voting system during a recent briefing hosted by the Philippine Embassy.

FilCom leaders raise their concerns about the vulnerability of online voting system during the briefing by the Embassy. [Photo courtesy of Consul Eric Villanueva]

The group is primarily worried about the vulnerability of the system to hacking and whether voters could trust their votes would be accurately recorded.

“Secure ba ito gamitin? Hindi ba mahahack?” Paano ko masisiguro na ang boto ko ang lalabas sa balota?  Hindi ba mapupunta sa iba ang boto ko dahil hindi ko na mave-verify ang boto ko once na pumasok na sa sistema?” Giovanni Abańo and Shan Sabio of Pinoy Ako in Spain asked.

Consul Eric Villanueva, chair of the embassy’s Special Board of Elections, assured voters that the system has been tested to prove it is safe and secure.

“We need to trust the system kasi ang may gawa nito ay isang company from Korea and wala pa naman kaming narinig na reklamo.” he explained. 

For the first time in overseas election history, COMELEC will adopt Internet voting in the 2025 National Elections Overseas, specifically for registered voters. 

In the Philippines, Reina Mercedes, Isabela vice mayoral candidate Jeryll Harold Respicio, a lawyer and an IT expert, has earlier claimed in the now deleted self-produced video on Facebook, that the automated counting machines could be hacked to change the results.

Respicio is concerned that if the ACM is connected to the internet before printing the election returns and its source code is compromised, a hacker can do something to change the final vote count in the election returns, compromise the accuracy of the results and affect the integrity of the election.

The election body responded by filing a cyber libel case against Respicio. The Comelec sued Respicio for allegedly violating Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, known as Cybercrime Prevention Act.

In interviews by various news platforms, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia, denounced Respicio’s claim as “very dangerous,” adding that aside from the “misinformation, this is very dangerous because just think, the minds of the people are already being conditioned (that) our elections can be manipulated. The Comelec cannot allow it.”

Garcia assured the public that the transmission device will only be connected once the election results are printed and posted.

He added that the ACMs are “stand alone machines” that they can function even without electricity because they have long-lasting batteries.

Besides, the votes can be determined once the ninth copy of election return is printed and posted because the election returns are printed before the votes are transmitted.

Government critic and former Finance Undersecretary, Cielo Magno, advised Comelec that instead of filing cases against individuals who are asking or seeking clarification on the integrity of the election, it should show a certification from established international entity, as mandated by RA 9369, the Election Automation Law of 2007.

The entity certifies that the hardware and software that will be used in May are working properly, securely and accurately, according to Magno.

Internet voting is expected to provide easier access to voting, greater convenience, time savings, lower costs compared to mail-in or in-person voting as well as encourage more voter participation and increase turnout. 

The system is being piloted in 77 foreign posts, including Madrid and Canary Islands where there are around 15,000 registered voters.

Valenzuela underscored the importance of completing the registration process while abroad, as the portal cannot be accessed from the Philippines.

Consul Eric Valenzuela conducts online voting briefing to the Filipino community organizations in Madrid.  [Photo courtesy of Consul Eric Villanueva]

The orientation also stressed the need to register online to be able to vote in the May polls.

Consul Valenzuela reassured the public that the embassy is ready to assist voters not familiar with the technology and guide them through the process.

The pre-voting enrollment will end on May 07, 2025. You may use this link in your internet browser: https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll.

Various organizations attended the briefing, including Asociación de Mujeres Filipina de Madrid, Pinoy Ako in Spain, Galéon de Espańa Eagles Club, Madrid Seniors Society, Ugnayan, Step by Step, Organisasyon ng mga Basketbolistang Filipina sa Madrid, and Overseas Filipino Worker Global Movement for Empowerment.

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