Marcos camp sues Comelec, Smartmatic officials for script change
Vice-Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos slams the Smartmatic for changing a script on the transparency server of the PPCRV as he delivers a privilege speech at the resumption of the Senate session on Monday, May 23, 2016 RICHARD A. REYES
A supporter of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday filed a complaint against officials of Smartmatic and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for violating the Cybercrime Law during the May 9 elections.
Abakada-Guro Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, campaign adviser of Marcos, filed the 15-page complaint at the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. The respondents were Smartmatic Executive Marlon Garcia, Smartmatic Project Director Elie Moreno, Smartmatic Technical Support Team member Neil Banigued, Smartmatic personnel Mauricio Herrera; Comelec IT officer Rouie Penalba and two other Comelec personnel Nelson Herrera and Frances Gonzalez for alleged tampering of the communication systems used on the May 9 elections.
“May sinasabi doon na hindi pwede makialam o maglabas, tumingin or kalikutin ang ilang bahagi ng sistema at walang makialam tungkol dun sa (It is said there that no one can meddle with, release, view, or tinker with some parts of the system, and that no one should interfere regarding matters of) communications or electronic that has anything to do with information and communication system,” dela Cruz told reporters.
“It was illegal access in the sense that the systems were accessed without the permission of the owner, which is Comelec,” he added.
READ: Marcos insists VP count tainted
Article continues after this advertisementThe complaint stemmed from a script change introduced by Smartmatic on the night of the May 9 elections while the transmission of votes was going on.
Article continues after this advertisementOn the night of the elections, Garcia supposedly altered the script in Comelec’s transparency to correct the “ñ” in the names of the candidates.
Both Smartmatic and Comelec claim that the change would not affect the results of the votes.
Atty. Jose Amor Amorado, head of the Marcos legal team, questioned the Comelec personnel for accessing the system without informing proper authorities.
“All of them were present inside the room when Garcia introduced the script since Comelec IT allowed him to that..There is consent given without authority from Comelec,” he said.
“What is surprising is this IT personnel under IT department had the courage and temerity to allow Smartmatic to access the system…What authority did the IT personnel of the Comelec have at that time to give the Smartmatic the password?” he added.
READ: Marcos insists on system audit
Marcos is in a close fight for the vice presidency against Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, who is leading the race based on the unfinished unofficial quick count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. His camp claims that after the new script was introduced at the night of the elections, it affected the results of the votes in favor of Robredo. CDG
