MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is shutting down the automated election system (AES) servers and their network infrastructure today.
In an advisory issued over the weekend, the Comelec said the system will be turned off at 9 a.m., given that the winners of the May 9 national and local elections have already been proclaimed.
Scheduled for shutdown is the Central Data Center-Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Vitro Taguig, located on the ground floor of the Bonifacio Technology Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
The Comelec is also shutting down the Transparency Data Center-PLDT Vitro Parañaque, located at Rack IT Elorde Compound in Sucat, Parañaque City; and the Backup Data Center-Data One, located at the IBM Plaza, Eastwood City Cyberpark in Quezon City.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said that for transparency purposes they have invited political parties and citizens’ arm groups to witness the activity.
The Comelec advisory noted that while the media would not be invited to personally witness these events because of security reasons, these would be streamed live on the official Comelec Facebook page (facebook.com/comelec.ph) and YouTube Channel (youtube.com/COMELEC).
The Comelec will also be releasing official photos after the activity.
Garcia gave assurance that even after the dismantling of servers, data would be preserved.
SOCE deadline set June 8
Meanwhile, the Comelec reminded candidates in the May 9 elections that they have only until June 8 to file their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE).
In an interview over Teleradyo, Garcia said that there would be no extension of the deadline for the filing of the SOCE.
He clarified that the requirement to file the SOCE covers all candidates whether they won or lost and whether they withdrew or pushed through with their candidacy.
The Comelec said those who fail to file their SOCE on or before June 8 would be obliged to pay a fine; and those who failed to file their SOCE for a second time face perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“At present, there are more than 500 candidates from the previous elections who are facing perpetual disqualification to hold public office because they failed to file their SOCE in two consecutive elections,” Garcia said.
Even if a candidate won in the elections, the Comelec can decide to have that person removed from an elective post for failing to submit a SOCE for a second time.
Moreover, violation of the SOCE requirement may send a candidate to prison for one to six years. They may also be charged with perjury, if they were untruthful in their statement.
As of yesterday, none of those who ran for a national government position – president, vice president, senator and party-list – have filed their respective SOCEs, the Comelec said.
Local candidates are required to submit their SOCE to the Comelec office in their locality.