Smartmatic Inc. has revealed that a “data leak” occurred in its system, according to Commission on Elections chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan.
Pangarungan said during the signing ceremony that the company had also taken disciplinary action against the employee who was allegedly involved in the leak.
“Smartmatic informed us that they have meted the appropriate disciplinary action against that employee of theirs,” Pangarungan said.
“They emphasized to us that the data leak does not have anything to do with the elections in 2022. What was leaked were data concerning their internal organization and activities,” he added.
According to Pangarungan, the employee has been terminated from his position.
According to the poll authority chief, Smartmatic assured the Comelec that the internal data leak has not jeopardized the security of the ballots and configured SD cards.
Before making a conclusion about the incident, Pangarungan said the Comelec would wait for the official report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the reported data breach.
“Although, alam ng Smartmatic that we studied all possible courses of action that the Comelec will take against them if ever. So antayin na lang natin yung report ng NBI kasi yun ang magiging official na basehan ng action ng Comelec,” he said.
Comelec: Smartmatic data leak unrelated to 2022 elections
(Smartmatic is aware that we investigated all conceivable courses of action that Comelec could take against them if they are ever found guilty; therefore, we must await the NBI report, which will serve as the official foundation for Comelec’s decision.)
The National Bureau of Investigation has taken custody of a Smartmatic employee who was involved in the alleged security breach in the company’s system, according to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (NBI).
“Yes. Kahapon pa, we were already given a copy of his sworn affidavit,” Sotto told GMA News Online.
(Yes. We received a copy of his sworn affidavit yesterday.)
After a suspected security compromise on the service provider’s system for the 2022 elections, Comelec announced on March 24 that it would reconsider its contract with Smartmatic, Inc.
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