Over three million cyberattacks targeted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) website and its precinct finder apps during the critical days surrounding the May elections, sparking fresh concerns over the safety and resilience of the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, the attacks occurred from May 11 to May 14—coinciding with the period from the eve of the elections to the canvassing of votes. While none of the attacks reportedly succeeded, the scale and persistence of these attempts highlight the growing threat to public data and electoral integrity in the Philippines.
Laudiangco revealed that the precinct finder alone saw over 76.81 million visits, with 46.17 million confirmed as legitimate user searches. However, an alarming 1.45 million access attempts were identified as hacking attempts, largely categorized as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Similarly, the Comelec website logged 113.41 million visits, including 1.75 million confirmed and mitigated cyberattacks.
DDoS attacks, which aim to paralyze digital systems by overwhelming them with massive internet traffic, pose serious risks to the availability and reliability of government services. In this case, they were thwarted by cybersecurity protocols established by the Comelec Cybersecurity Division in cooperation with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
What is particularly concerning is that, while most of the attacks appeared to originate from foreign locations, cybersecurity experts believe the real culprits may be based within the Philippines, using international servers to obscure their true identities. This tactic makes it even more challenging to trace and prosecute cybercriminals.
The incident underscores a sobering reality: public institutions in the Philippines are increasingly becoming high-value targets for sophisticated cyberthreats. While Comelec’s systems proved resilient this time, the scale of the attacks demonstrates a clear intent to disrupt public trust and potentially compromise sensitive electoral data.
Experts warn that such cyber offensives may only grow more advanced and frequent in future elections and public events. These threats demand continuous investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, capacity-building for government personnel, and stronger coordination between agencies.
Beyond elections, the implications ripple across all government digital services. If systems that hold personal, financial, or medical data face similar levels of attack, the damage could be severe, ranging from identity theft to large-scale misinformation.
The recent incident serves as both a warning and a call to action. As the Philippines accelerates its digital transformation, ensuring the integrity, security, and resilience of public digital platforms must remain a top priority.
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