By Ferdinand Patinio – PNA
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the “trusted build” program of the automated election system (AES) to be used in the May 2019 mid-term polls, will be held next week.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Wednesday the activity has been set at 8 a.m. on Dec. 14 (Philippine time) in Alabama, USA, to be personally witnessed by Commissioner Marlon Casquejo.
“The trusted build is the final step in assembling the software system that will be used in the elections,” Jimenez said in an interview.
Jimenez added that the entire proceedings will be broadcast via Facebook Live in a venue they will announce later.
The activity will be conducted after the Philippine AES passed the review conducted by international systems and software testing firm, Pro V&V, in Alabama, USA.
“This is important for the credibility of the system because it provides the assurance that the system is not made from shady components; and that all the components have been properly reviewed and cleared,” Jimenez added.
Upon review, the international firm must be able to categorically state that the AES, including its hardware and software components, is operating properly, securely, and accurately, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“Once the components have been reviewed, they are then assembled to create the overall program that will govern the entire AES,” he explained.
“Hence, ‘trusted build’ simply means assembling the program using the reviewed components,” the poll body official added.
The Poll Automation Law provides that the AES must be reviewed and certified by an established international certification entity not later than three months before election day.
