Stolen voter’s data used in vote-buying
FROM COMELEC WEBSITE HACKING?
THE stolen data of voters from the Commission on Elections’ hacked website are suspected already being used in the large-scale vote buying in Pangasinan.
This suspicion was bolstered by the evidence gathered for the rampant vote-buying included a card board stub containing the voter’s data base, including his or her polling precinct number, all computer-printed.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Fidel Gines hinted this when shown a sample of the stub that had containing quick retrieval (QR) code, given to a voter in his residence by vote-buying candidates’ campaign teams to present to a so-called “redemption center” in order to claim the cash intended for the voter.
Speaking at the KBP Forum, Gines said the data of the voter was possibly extracted from the hacked Comelec website, pointing out that it is only the IT (Information Technology) department of Comelec that has access to voters’ data.
To confirm that the bearer of the stub is the one indicated in it, the QR code is passed before an electronic scanner and if found genuine, the photo as well as the other data of voter will appear on a computer screen.
After that, the voter is handed the money that ranged from P1,000 to P1,5000 and the sample ballot listing the candidates to be voted for.
“I will have this included in my post-election analysis so that this will be investigated thoroughly to ensure that those who perpetrated the scheme will be prosecuted and punished,” Gines said.
He admitted that vote-buying occurs in every election but this is the only time that it is being done electronically with the aid possibly of IT experts.
Stubs were also reportedly issued to Governor Amado Espino Jr., his son and namesake Amado I. Espino III and Bautista Mayor Amadeo Espino, indicating that those employed to implement the scheme did not know who the province’s political personalities are.
Superintendent Jackie Candelario, deputy police provincial director for operations, said three distraction teams from the police regional office 1 have been formed not only to go after those involved in vote-buying and selling but also against other crimes.
“We employed policemen from the regional office to do this to ensure their neutrality,” said Candelario.
He told the KBP that the distraction teams broke up supposed vote-buying activities in Rosales, Mangaldan, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Burgos, Dasol and Tayug.
Candelario admitted that the police did not arrest any person in these operations but succeeded in disrupting and stopping the reported activities.
He said the police have been responding quickly to text messages reported by concerned citizens. (Leonardo Micua)
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