3 ‘Hackers’ Promising Election Victories Arrested
The three IT professionals, who were arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group in separate entrapment operations, claimed to be hackers who can breach the system of the Commission on Elections.
Police arrested three information technology (IT) professionals on Sunday night, April 24, for allegedly enticing politicians that they could manipulate the results of the May 9 elections in the candidates’ favor in exchange for P10 million.
The three, who were arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in separate entrapment operations, claimed to be hackers who can breach the system of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Two of them were arrested in Cavite while one was collared in Laguna, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The suspects were not immediately identified pending a press conference today on their arrest at the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) office under its executive director Undersecretary Cesar Mancao II.
The police operation stemmed from information received by the CICC that the suspects were offering their services to politicians, claiming they can ensure their victory in the polls by breaching and manipulating the Comelec’s system.
In return, politicians would have to shell out P10 million each for their services.
The three were arrested after they accepted the marked money from undercover police officers.
The source clarified there is no evidence so far which would suggest that the suspects were the ones involved in the hacking and data breach at the Comelec several months ago.
It is also unclear if there were political candidates who paid the suspects.
