NBI Tracking Down Hackers Of Comelec Website

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – Cyber Crime Division is now tracking down those behind the hacking of the official website of the Commission on Elections last March 27.

According to NBI – Cyber Crime Division chief Ronald Aguto, the agency was following a lead that would determine the people that illegally entered the poll body’s website, www.comelec.gov.ph.

“We are hoping that in the next few days, we will be able to identify, arrest, and charge the person responsible,” said Aguto.

The NBI official revealed that they were able to track the suspects through the IP address they used as well as human intelligence.

He did not provide other details but noted that the hackers were based in the country.

“We believe it’s a group and they are inside the Philippine territory,” said Aguto.

Two weeks ago, a hackers group, Anonymous Philippines, defaced the website.

At the same time, another group, Lulzsec Pilipinas, claimed to have leaked sensitive personal data sourced from the Comelec database.

Aguto noted the agency was looking into both cases separately but it did not discount the possibility that they were one and the same group. “We consider it as two separate incidents,” he said.

On the other hand, Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they would wait on the recommendation from the NBI regarding their next move.

“Of course the Comelec is studying legal remedies against those who intruded on the Comelec website as well as those who are benefiting,” he said.

The poll body official added, “Obviously, Comelec has to run after the people who did this once they are identified and apprehended. There will be legal actions taken against them as well as those who have been taking advantage of what they did.”

On the claims of Lulzsec, Jimenez said the commission was verifying them.

“We are still validating these claims. We don’t if all the 340 GBs they claim to have copied are authentic or if they really came from the Comelec,” he added.

Meanwhile, the poll body has collaborated with messaging app firm, Viber, in order to provide a more extensive coverage and information-sharing method of the May 9 national and local elections.

The partnership will be creating an official 2016 polls public chat forum, where users can get updates about the elections as well as subscribe to voter education programs in their mobile devices.

Likewise, it will allow Viber users to download a sticker pack, which the public can use to enrich their Viber conversations on elections. (PNA) RMA/FGP/SGP