Comelec takes up jamming threat at en banc meeting

(Updated 11:15 a.m.) The Commission on Elections will discuss the potential problem posed by signal jamming devices on the automated elections this May 10. Shortly before the poll body's en banc meeting on Tuesday morning, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said they would be discussing possible countermeasures. "It will be discussed immediately," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. A signal jammer is a device used to disrupt radio signals between cellular towers and mobile phones, preventing the transmission of data. If placed near a handset, it can prevent the phone from getting a signal. If directed at a local cellular antenna tower, it can stop the tower from receiving transmissions from mobile phones throughout a geographical region. Law enforcers use jammers to prevent terrorist attacks by jamming radio equipment used as triggers for improvised explosive devices. They are also used by theaters to prevent mobile calls from disrupting the show. Civilians in the US and Europe are barred from selling and buying signal jammers. Earlier on Tuesday, Larrazabal assured the public the Comelec had put in place emergency plans for such a situation. “‘Yung loss of signal, jammed man 'yan o hindi, kasama sa backup plans ‘yan ng Comelec. Maski mawala ang signal, importante the people are able to vote at ang election return ma-generate (The loss of mobile phone signals, whether caused by a signal jamming device or not, is already considered in our backup plans. Our objective is to ensure people can vote and election results can be generated even if cell phone signals are lost)," Larrazabal told dzXL radio. On the other hand, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it would coordinate more closely with the Comelec to guard the transmission and transport of election results on election day. Last Monday, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body was verifying possible attempts to tamper with the results of the polls with the reported entry of about 5,000 signal jammers. [See: Comelec wary over reported shipment of signal jammers] "That’s a little more worrisome. When you’re talking about 5,000 units of the same thing and considering the proximity of the elections, then you cannot help but be suspicious," he said. Larrazabal said the contingency plans involved the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines printing out 30 copies of election returns, regardless of whether there was a mobile signal or not. Members of the local Board of Election Inspectors will then secure the printed election returns and bring these to the canvassing centers. "There will be a slight delay but the bottom line is that the results will be transmitted. At the precinct level the machines will print copies of the election returns for political parties and citizens’ arm. So even if there is a delay in transmission or transport, there will be a basis for comparison," he said in Filipino. PNP-Comelec coordination The police will continue to coordinate with the Comelec in finding ways to secure the transmission or transport of election results. Radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag Jr. reported on Tuesday that PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina as saying that police security would be at its peak during the transmission of the results. Larrazabal admitted that the Comelec might not look too kindly at using anti-jamming devices since these may cause “complications." He said the Comelec expects the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to take the necessary steps to address the matter. "There will always be instances where the signal is weak. That’s part of the backup and contingency plans," he said. Larrazabal likewise downplayed the delay in the printing of ballots by another week, saying they would still beat the April 25 deadline. He said they had been informed by their technical staff that even with the delay, the printing of the ballots "will still be within the timeline." — LBG/SD/NPA, GMANews.TV