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Comelec deposits AES source codes at BSP

Philippines

Comelec deposits AES source codes at BSP

By Leslie Ann Aquino

The automated election system (AES) source codes for the May 2022 polls have been deposited at the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for safekeeping.

Screenshot Comelec FB

Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) led by Executive Director Bartolome Sinocruz and Atty. John Rex Laudiangco turnover the metal boxes containing the source codes to BSP on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

The source codes were then deposited in the BSP vault. It will be in escrow in the BSP until 2028.

"The source code is really the heart and soul of the automated election system. The fact that we have the source code here where it's protected from all dangers gives us a guarantee that the source code that we will be using on election day is trustworthy," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explained.

Rosabel Guerrero of BSP said the particular compartment where the AES source codes are stored can be opened only by Comelec.

"It would be the executive director who has that key and the combination lock which is also under the sole responsibility of the Comelec. The BSP cannot have access to that. We don't know that combination, we don't have the locks. So that will ensure the integrity of the source code. Nobody can open that and can have access to that except Comelec," she said.

It was Jan. 31 when Comelec and BSP signed an escrow agreement for the safekeeping of the AES source code in relation to the May 2022 polls.

Under Republic Act 9369 to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, credible and informed elections, the Comelec is mandated to place in escrow the source codes in BSP for safekeeping.

The source codes during the 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019 elections were also deposited in the BSP's vault.

Related Tags

comelec spokesperson james jimenez AES May 2022 polls banko sentral ng pilipinas Comelec source codes Commission on Elections BSP

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