NSC sounds alarm on possible foreign interference in 2025 midterm polls

MANILA — The National Security Council (NSC) is sounding the alarm on a possible foreign interference during the 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines.

Jonathan Malaya, NSC's assistant director general, cited the persistent attack from "foreign sources" as reported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

"Given that it's an election year, we should be starting to prepare now on how to protect the integrity of the electoral process and protect it from cyberattacks," Malaya told ANC.

"We see a consistent pattern abroad. We have seen foreign interference in elections in most democracies," he said.

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Malaya issued the warning after the United States and its two key allies accused China of being behind a series of hacks into lawmakers and key democratic institutions. 

China has rejected the accusation and said it "opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyberattacks."

Malaya said his agency has reached out to the DICT to prepare for the midterm polls for any possible foreign interference.

Part of their preparation, he said, is securing election database from hacking as well as safeguarding the transmission of election results to ensure it "cannot be subjected to any cyberattack."

Malaya also said they want to shield the upcoming campaign season from "fake news or disinformation or malign influence.

"It could be as subtle as troll farms or disinformation… to sway the public to a certain political thought. Or it could be as serious as hacking the electoral database. Or interfering with the transmission of votes," he said.

"For so long we have always been concerned about politicians manipulating the electoral process for their own benefit to ensure their victory."

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections said its early preparations for the 2025 polls is meant to ensure "that the  system is tested and all security measures are put in place." 

"The features and the wish lists that we included in the hardware, software and transmission ensure the protection against any cyberattack. Of course, the readiness of our IT personnel matters much coupled with our learnings from the past. Most important of all is the support of all stakeholders in the electoral process and the critical collaboration with the electorate," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in a statement. 

—with a report from Agence France-Presse