Comelec holds back P90-million payment to Smartmatic over alleged data breach

In a hearing on Tuesday, Comelec Commissioner Saidamen Pangarungan told lawmakers that he has not yet given the go-signal to release Smartmatic's payment due early March.  

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has withheld P90 million of payment to poll technology provider Smartmatic due to an alleged data breach connected to one of the company's contractual employees.

Last week, authorities raided the house of former Smartmatic employee Ricardo Argana in San Pedro, Laguna, who is a suspect in Smartmatic's security breach.

In a hearing on Tuesday, Comelec Commissioner Saidamen Pangarungan told lawmakers that he has not yet given the go-signal to release Smartmatic's payment due early March.  

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/19/2175247/comelec-holds-back-p90-million-payment-smartmatic-over-alleged-data-breach