Comelec exec says video of Smartmatic engineer 'fake news'

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez on Monday denied that he posted a video on the internet showing a Smartmatic engineer meddling with a CSS kit in Basilan.

Jimenez was referring to an article posted on Pinoy Trending News site last Thursday that said he posted on Facebook a video of Smartmatic systems engineer Juan Padron taking over a laptop of a Comelec employee.

"In the video, Juan Padron, Smartmatic Systems engineer took over the laptop of a Comelec employee and did something to the CSS kit of Basilan," the blog said, adding that Padron's action "is a clear violation of the order from one of the Comelec directors."

Jimenez said he did not post such a video, and called the article "fake news."

"This is fake news claiming that I posted a video which I did not take, much less put up online," Jimenez said on Twitter.

This is FAKE NEWS claiming that I posted a video which I did not take, much less put up online. 1/https://t.co/OvHDBzkDPf

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) April 3, 2017

Jimenez also reported a fake Facebook page under his name.

The Comelec, in a statement, said stripping activity involves only the physical dismantling of the rented election paraphernalia from Smartmatic.

"The Facebook Page being referenced is a fake. Jimenez denies setting up, managing, or directing a representative to set up and/or manage any official or unofficial Facebook Page," it said.

"The video being attributed to the Spox neither belongs to him nor was it captured by him. Jimenez is not in a position to verify the authenticity of the video."

Meanwhile, Jimenez called for vigilance against fake news.

He also asked netizens to be more discerning of news articles and blog posts being peddled by unscrupulous individuals.

The video allegedly taken by Jimenez, which was embedded on the blog post, was no longer available. —Joseph Tristan Roxas and Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News