MANILA — Some 12 applications were received by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to review the source code of the automated election system (AES) to be utilized in the May 13, 2019 midterm polls.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez made this announcement on Thursday, saying the letters of requests came from two political parties, five individuals, and non-government organizations.
The poll body official, however, refused to give the names of those pushing for the review the source code.
“We cannot release the list yet because the submissions are still undergoing technical evaluation,” Jimenez explained.
Jimenez reminded interested parties that they only have until Friday (Oct. 5) to send their written requests to the email address: [email protected].
“The Local Source Code Review Committee will continue to accept requests to participate in local source code review, until Oct. 5, 2018,” the Comelec spokesperson added.
Qualified to assess the source code are political parties or coalition of parties accredited with the Comelec; citizens’ arm organizations of the poll body; recognized information technology (IT) groups; civil society organizations with election advocacies; and the would-be host academic institution.
Reviewers qualified to be designated by would-be accredited groups or parties must be knowledgeable in computer programming languages and systems, particularly C/C++, Java application development, Bash, Object Oriented Programming Language, Unix-like systems, and Linux operating system.
The commission shall “promptly make the source code available and open to any interested party or group, which may conduct their own review” as provided for by Republic Act No. 9369. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
