Anonymous PH hacks Comelec website

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) suffered another technical problem weeks to go before the May 9 elections.

The Anonymous Philippines broke into and defaced the Comelec website late Sunday evening (March 27).

The hacktivist group posted a message asking the Comelec to make sure the PCOS have security features in place.

"What happens when the electoral process is so mired with questions and controversies? Can the government still guarantee that the sovereignty of the people is upheld?" it asked.

The units to be used in the 2016 elections are updated models of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used during the 2010 and 2013 elections.

According to the Comelec, the machines' features include:

A secured source code that makes sure the votes are interpreted correctly

An ultraviolet lamp that makes sure no fake ballot is inserted into the machine

Digital signatures of the Board of Election Inspectors, who will certify the poll returns

A voter verification paper audit trail (VVPAT) that serves as receipt of a person's votes. The machines are not only able to print a tape receipt but also have touch screen monitors that reflect the votes on the ballot

Related: Comelec holds demo of vote counting machines

Just hours later, another group named Lulzsec Pilipinas, claimed to have hacked the Comelec’s database and leaked it on Facebook.

The Comelec said it is still verifying whether the claim is entirely true, but it confirmed their website and database have indeed been breached.

Comelec downplays hack

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said no sensitive information was compromised during the hacking.

"Walang sensitive information dito, in other words. Hiwalay yung website na gagamitin natin para sa eleksyon, especially for results reporting."

Jimenez added their technicians are working to restore the site’s full functionality.

As of 1:30 p.m., some of the site’s applications were still disabled, including the precinct finder and search function.

Jimenez said technicians are scouring the system and databases to make sure they’re free of malware.

He added all of the poll body’s databases are intact and secure.

He said a website that the Comelec will put up to publish election results will be a lot more secure.

CNN Philippines' correspondent JC Gotinga contributed to this report.