Comelec warns vs ID theft over stolen data

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday warned over 60,000 registered voters against identity theft after a computer containing their data was stolen.

In a notice to the public, the poll body said the computer, which was “forcibly taken by still unidentified persons” at their office in Wao town in Lanao del Sur on Jan. 11, has an “encrypted database” containing the records of 40,991 regular voters and 17,373 Sangguniang Kabataan voters.

The voter registration record (VVR) contains the full name, date of birth, address, profession, name of spouse, biometrics (digital photos, signatures and fingerprints) taxpayer identification number and voter identification number.

The Comelec said the computer also contains a “limited version” of the VRR of 75,898,336 active and deactivated voters across the country.

The poll body urged voters to scrutinize their bills for goods and services, credit card or storage charge card, collection notices as well as missing mails and emails.

“Be aware of online phishing scam...when a website impersonates a business you trust in order to get your private information. Never click on links you don’t trust and do not give your private information,” it said.

Voters were also asked to update their passwords, change the secret questions on their online accounts and increase the privacy, authentication and security settings of their email and social media accounts.

The Comelec said it strengthened the authentication features of the voter registration system and revised its policies, rules and guidelines.

The National Privacy Commission is investigating the incident, which is considered the “second large-scale data breach” after the hacking of the Comelec website two months before the May 2016 elections.