Comelec files cybercrime complaint vs Isabela vice mayoral bet

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), through Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan, has filed a cybercrime complaint against Isabela vice mayoral bet Jeryll Harold Respicio over his claims on social media that he can manipulate the results of Eleksyon 2025.

Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, representative of the task force, signed the complaint filed with the Manila Prosecutors' Office on Friday.

“Ito ay napaka-dangerous, napakamapanganib. Maliban sa misinformation, napakamapanganib sapagkat isipin niyo ngayon pa lang kinokondisyon ang sambayanan na pupuwedeng gawan ng paraan [ang pagakapanalo sa eleksyon],” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia told reporters.

(It is very dangerous. Apart from the misinformation, it is very dangerous because it is conditioning the minds of the public that the election results can be manipulated.)

In one of his videos, Respicio claimed there were supposed backdoor programs to override the Automated Counting Machines and even "demonstrated" how it can be done.

“Hindi ang Comelec ang tinitira niya dito, kundi ang buong proseso at integridad ng ating halalan. Hindi papayag ang Comelec sa mga ganito,” said Garcia.

(He is not just attacking Comelec, but the entire process and integrity of our election. The Comelec will not allow such things.)

“In fact, gusto naming sabihin, ganito rin ang gagawin ng Task Force KKK, whether yung sasabihin ang ilalagay sa social media o misinformaiton o disinifomation o fake news laban sa isang kandidato, party-list o botante," he added.

(This is what Task Force KKK will be doing every time there is online misinformation or fake news against a candidate, a party, or a voter.)

Respicio is running for vice mayor of Reina Mercedes town. He is a lawyer and a certified public accountant (CPA).

In a statement, he claimed that the complaint was filed because he "exposed" the vulnerabilities of the election machines.

"Kinasuhan ako ng COMELEC dahil sa Facebook video kung saan inilahad ko ang malubhang kahinaan ng voting machines," he said. 

(The Comelec lodged the complaint because of a Facebook video where I exposed the vulnerabilities of the machines.)

"Kapag nakakonekta sa Internet ang machine bago i-print ang election returns, maaaring madaya ang eleksyon. Bukod sa abugado, isa akong IT expert," Respicio added. 

(If the machine is connected to the internet before it prints the election returns, you can manipulate the election. Aside from being a lawyer, I am also an IT expert.)

According to Garcia, the task force will also file a disqualification case against the respondent, a disbarment case before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and a case to revoke his license before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Garcia, meanwhile, also called on netizens to be careful in sharing information online.

“We will take seriously any attempt to undermine the integrity of our elections. Because the integrity of our elections is the very foundation of our democracy and why the people continue to believe that the election is part and parcel of our democracy,” he added. 

In a separate interview, Garcia slammed Respicio’s claims, saying the respondent might have a “misunderstanding or non-understanding” of the process of transmitting of election returns.

“Mukhang ang kaniyang understanding, magta-transmit agad ang bawat makina tapos after ng transmission, ‘tsaka magp-print ng election returns. Baliktad po. Election returns muna bago ang transmission,” said Garcia.

(He might have a misunderstanding of the process. The election returns will be printed before its transmission.)

“Ibig sabihin, bago mag-transmit alam na ng lahat ang boto sa bawat presinto. Paano mo siya maha-hack? Paano mo mababago? Paano mo mapapakialamanan ang results kung ganitong alam na ng lahat…kung ano ang results?” he added.

(This means that the results will be issued before the transmission. How will he hack or change that when everyone knows the votes?)

Garcia likewise urged Respicio to answer the accusations against him after the issuance of a subpoena against him.

“Lahat naman pupwedeng IT experts, election law experts…lalo na pag ganitong elections. Sa amin lang sana yung ganiyang kasagutan, magandang maihanda na niya pag napasagot na sya ng prosecutor’s office,” he said.

(Everyone can claim they are IT or election law experts especially during the elections. For us, we hope that he can file his answers after the prosecutor’s office issue a subpoena.)

The Comelec formed Task Force KKK sa Halalan to combat misinformation amid Eleksyon 2025. — VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.