Two senators on Tuesday said they find it imperative for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to improve its online defenses and protect it from any possible security breaches especially in the run up to the May 2022 elections.

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson made the call following reports of hacking on the poll body’s servers which are now being verified.

“While the alleged hacking of the Comelec website is still being verified, let me stress the importance of protecting data privacy in databanks under the care of government and private agencies,” said Hontiveros, who is seeking a fresh term in the Senate in the upcoming May 2022 elections.

“Lalo na’t nangyari na rin ito noon (Especially when it happened before) when voters’ data were leaked and compromised,” she added.

“We cannot afford to let it all happen again let alone allow these sensitive information to fall into the hands of unscrupulous individuals. As holders of these information that the public has entrusted to them, it is Comelec’s duty to protect the information from security breaches, and to preserve the integrity of the electoral process,” Hontiveros also stressed.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that while only the Comelec and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) can officially confirm or deny if such hacking indeed occurred, their in-house Comelec-accredited cyber-security team is now currently conducting its own investigation.

Lacson, who is running for president under the Partido Reporma in the upcoming May 2022 elections, said finding out who was or were responsible is already material information to establish the motive and who would benefit from the alleged hacking.

“Meantime, we have to await the response of the author/s who said they will show proof to substantiate their hacking allegations,” Lacson said.

“That said, the Comelec should clarify the veracity of the hacking incident and be forthright with its findings,” he added.

More importantly, Lacson said the poll body should be open to letting experts and related stakeholders help strengthen the security system—"including our cybersecurity experts and those of other aspirants.”

“Only through transparency and accountability can we guarantee the integrity of the upcoming elections,” he reiterated.

“Our elections on May 9 could not have come at a more critical time. This is not just about the individual candidates, but about upholding our democracy which, if the hacking turns out to be true, is gravely being threatened,” said Lacson.