COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia was well within his rights when he filed a complaint against Jeryll Harold Respicio, a vice mayoral candidate from Isabela, for falsely claiming that automated counting machines (ACMs) in the upcoming May midterm elections could be hacked to manipulate results.
And although Respicio, a laywer and a CPA, deleted the videos posted on his social media account, Garcia seems bent on teaching him a lesson as he also vowed to go after his license and have him disbarred too.
The Comelec chief personally led the filing before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office, citing Article 154 (Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances) of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Garcia expressed frustration over Respicio’s video, in which he allegedly demonstrated election result manipulation, misleading the public into believing in backdoor programs that could alter outcomes.
“…In fact, he showed a second video where he was supposedly manipulating the election,” Garcia told reporters after filing the complaint, which was signed by Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiango, who happens to be a lawyer and the chair of the poll body’s Task Force KKK (Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan) sa Halalan.
Laudiangco stood as a complainant in the case.
The said task force, according to Spox Laudiangco, was created in July last year for the purpose of fighting misinformation, malinformation and disinformation in elections.
I agree with Chairman Garcia that the claims made by Respicio are indeed dangerous, as they may cast doubts on the integrity of the midterm elections.
“This is very dangerous. Aside from the misinformation, this is very dangerous because just think, the minds of the people are already being conditioned [that] our elections can be manipulated … The Comelec cannot allow it,” the chairman had said.
He assured that Comelec takes all threats to election integrity seriously, as it is the foundation of democracy.
Garcia also debunked Respicio’s assertions, clarifying:
“We don’t transmit results immediately. Before transmission, election returns are printed, ensuring vote counts are known before electronic submission. It’s not the other way around.”
He further challenged Respicio’s hacking claims:
“This means, prior to transmission, the vote count in every precinct will be known by all. How could you hack them? How could you change them? How could you interfere with the results when everyone knows them already?
Under the leadership of Garcia and Laudiangco, Comelec has worked tirelessly to safeguard election integrity, yet attempts to discredit the process persist.
By taking firm action against false allegations, Chair Garcia sends a strong message: no one can recklessly undermine the credibility of the Comelec and its electoral processes without consequences.
***
DIRECT HIT entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to [email protected] or text 0917-3132168.
