NBI to file raps against Smartmatic employee linked to data breach

The NBI headquarters in Manila. (File photo / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Wednesday it will file complaints against a former Smartmatic employee who was allegedly linked to the security breach at the automated elections technology provider.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said this as he confirmed that NBI agents raided the house of former Smarmatic employee Ricardo Argana in Laguna.

“While awaiting for the agent’s report for the details, yes we confirm that NBI conducted an operation last Sunday morning in the premises of Ricardo Argana in San Pedro, Laguna, former Smartmatic employee,” Lavin said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“Charges of illegal access, qualified theft and possibly obstruction of justice will be filed against Argana,” he added.

NBI agents seized several computers and mobile gadgets during the raid, according to Lavin.

Argana was not present during the operation.

Senators earlier learned that an employee of Smartmatic allegedly allowed a group of hackers to copy election data from a company laptop.

Both the Smartmatic and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured that the data breach does not concern election data, with Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan saying the data that was leaked only involved Smartmatic’s internal operations.

JPV