Cybersecurity Risks in the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections

October 26, 2024

Strengthening Democracy: The Evolution of Philippine Elections and Cybersecurity Challenges

Every three years, citizens fortify the unshakable cornerstone of democracy. Come May, new political leaders emerge to author the blueprint of advancements and developments that will best shape this nation to break into the global economy.

The tangible embodiment of the democratic process is the casting of the ballot. Simply, democracy is delivered by and for the People through voting machines.

The nuissance of fully automated elections was in 2010 with Smartmatic’s precinct count optical scan (PCOS). Months before the next national election year, marked the biggest leak of personal data in Philippine history. The 2016 Commission of Elections (Comelec) data breach exposed the vulnerability of government online security to digital attacks. In this evolving landscape, the expertise of a political law firm becomes vital.

Within the same day, there were two separate attacks on the Comelec’s website. The hacker group “Anonymous Philippines” defaced the Comelec’s website claiming it was a clarion call for tighter security measures on vote counting machines (VCMs) while “LulzSec Pilipinas” posted an online link to Comelec’s “entire database” which amounts to three hundred and forty (340) gigabytes worth of data. Despite the severity of the breach, Comelec later assured the public that the incident did not impact the results of the national elections.

In the 2019 election, the “7-hour glitch” cast doubt on the regularity of elections. Comelec explained that the transparency server was inundated with the magnitude of data transmitted from different precincts. However, the Comelec assured a glitch-free 2022 election since it had updated the transparency servers’ capacity along with the hardware and software components.

Ensuring Election Integrity: New Voting Machines and Cybersecurity Measures

Last June, the first batch of the new voting machines leased from Korea’s Miru System arrived in the Philippines to replace the VCMs that the country has utilized since the 2010 National Elections. ACMs have a direct recording electronic (DRE) system with a touch-screen feature, which when enabled, allows votes to be cast sans the traditional paper ballot.

However, earlier this month, one of Miru’s local partners in the Miru Joint Venure, St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC), which provided the Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) withdrew from the Miru joint venture. It was reported that STCC’s supposed owner may run in the national and local elections. STCC was given two options by Comelec Chairman George Garcia: withdraw from the joint venture or risk being barred from running for elective office.

Despite all these, the Comelec Chair assures that the election will push through. He also assures that there are stronger security measures in place against possible exploitation of cyber vulnerabilities by determined individuals. However, the Comelec and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are yet to execute a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the cybersecurity of the 2025 midterm polls. As the election date approaches, the need for effective election law consulting and robust security protocols becomes increasingly important to maintain public trust in the electoral process.

Uncertainty still looms large despite the proximity of the 2025 midterm elections. Seemingly, every election is a learning curve towards developing a system that adapts to the necessity and capability of the electorate.

Admittedly, there are no “unhackable” machines, nor is there a need for them. But, voting machines should be secured enough in their capability to recognize a problem as it occurs and promptly remedy it. This security measure will in turn secure the voting population that the ballots cast resound the true heartbeat of the nation. Paraphrasing United States President Truman, it is the hand that casts the ballot that signs the laws.

Trust in the electoral system is essential, as every counted vote represents a right that must be upheld.

Engaging the legal services of election law attorneys at political law firms is vital for safeguarding voter rights. In our current era of online political campaigning and automated elections, it is imperative for political candidates and parties to have the guidance of experienced election lawyers. These professionals play a crucial role in upholding the fundamental right to vote and to run for office. By navigating the complexities of election laws and regulations, they ensure that the electoral process remains fair and transparent, protecting the integrity of democracy.

Abo Law Firm specializes in election law, providing expertise in election fraud investigations, cybersecurity measures, and election disputes. As a leading political law firm, we understand the evolving threats faced by the guardians of democracy in today’s online campaigning landscape. Our dedicated team, including election law attorneys and voter rights attorneys, is committed to ensuring free and fair elections while maintaining public trust in the democratic system. We offer comprehensive services, including election compliance consulting, ballot access legal services, and political candidate representation.