Election watchdog Kontra Daya has called on Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Andres Bautista to resign from his post after a second data breach in the poll agency?s office in Lanao del Sur was confirmed.
?That a computer containing sensitive voters’ information has been stolen in January at Comelec office in Wao, Lanao del Sur means only one thing: The Comelec itself needs a ?reboot?,? the group said in a statement.
Kontra Daya said Comelec’s fresh start should be in the form of Bautista’s resignation after he ?miserably failed to provide the necessary means to protect voters’ data.?
The watchdog noted that prior to the break-in at the Wao office, the Comelec website was hacked and sensitive voter information like addresses and passport numbers were made publicly available by hackers weeks before the May 2016 elections.
Kontra Daya said it took two weeks before Comelec officials reported the Wao breach, using as an excuse the ongoing voter registration for the October 23, 2017 Barangay and Sangguaniang Kabataan Elections.
?We find this hard to believe, but at the same time not surprising given that the 2016 Comelec data breach was initially reported by TrendMicro as early as April 6 but it was publicly confirmed by Comelec only 15 days after,? the group said.
?Indeed, the Wao break-in highlights anew the brazen incompetence of the Comelec leadership and it is high time that Bautista resign.?
