13 May Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon Slams Smartmatic for Software Alteration Without Official Consent
On May 12, Thursday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon called for an investigation re a protocol breach in the transparency server of the poll body, wherein a new script or computer command was introduced without prior permission.
In a news conference on Friday, Guanzon spoke that the move by Smartmatic can centainly cause effects on credibility of the automated elections. On the other hand, Smartmatic said that the software alteration is just a cosmetic change and has no effect on the results.
Marlon Garcia, Head of Smartmatic Project demonstrated the server script edit process they did saying that the change was meant to only replace the “?” symbol in the names of candidates with “ñ” assuring that the vote results were not changed.
“Since it was a minor change, it doesn’t need to be brought up to the (Comelec) chairman,” Garcia insisted.
However, Guanzon said that the poll technology provider had no right to do what it did and shouldn’t have made any changes without the Comelec’s knowledge and permission, and that they should have been informed about the problem and the consequences.
“They should have not touched that program without our prior knowledge and our official consent. If you do any change perhaps just to make it look nicer, it’s our property,” she said. “This automated election system is property of the Comelec and we are accountable to the people. They are not supposed to touch it without our permission.”
“It could have been anything, it could have been worse and we are responsible for this election.”, Guanzon said adding that she is thankful for the results were not altered.
The Comelec commissioner apologized to the pubic and said they will continue to investigate the incident.
“We can assure you that the commissioners are going to study this,” Guanzon said apologizing to the public. “We will get to the bottom of this.”
Wilma Aquino
Posted at 00:02h, 14 MayMy VP is Cayetano, but we all wanted clean and honest election. In fairness to the people let their votes be properly counted. Lets give in to the benefits of the doubt. May ginalaw sa hash code…whether may epekto sa counting or none, ANG TANONG NG TAONG BAYAN, TUTUO BA? FOR GOD SAKE, AUTOMATED ELECTION TO? APOLOGIZING IS NOT ENOUGH. DO THE RIGHT THING. DO THE RECOUNT TO CLEAR DOUBTS AGAINST COMELEC THE VP WINNING THIS ELECTION WILL FOREVER BE JUDGED A CHEATER.!