Changes

==== 2016 elections ====

==== 2016 elections ====

Days after the May 2016 elections, Bongbong Marcos alleged that Smartmatic had tampered with the votes which cost him being elected Vice President of the Philippines and criminal proceedings were filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Comelec personnel as well as Smartmatic employees, with Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon stating that Smartmatic had violated protocols.<ref name="INQUIREphil">{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/785566/smartmatic-faces-probe|title=Smartmatic faces probe|last1=Uy|first1=Jocelyn R.|date=14 May 2016|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=}}</ref> After a Smartmatic employee fled the country, Bongbong Marcos accused the Comelec for his "escape", though two other Smartmatic personnel, one from Venezuela and the other from Israel, were present for criminal proceedings.<ref name="BONGsmart">{{cite news|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/comelec-hit-for-escape-of-smartmatic-engineer/268793/|title=Comelec hit for escape of Smartmatic engineer - The Manila Times Online|date=19 June 2016|work=[[The Manila Times]]|accessdate=}}</ref> In July 2016, it was reported that Smartmatic funneled votes through "unofficial servers".<ref name="SMARTservers" /> In an October 2016 editorial, ''[[The Manila Times]]'' called on all members of Comelec to resign due to the "innumerable controversies since its adoption of the Smartmatic-based Automated Election System".<ref name="SMARTresign" />

Days after the May 2016 elections, Bongbong Marcos alleged that Smartmatic had tampered with the votes which cost him being elected Vice President of the Philippines and criminal proceedings were filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Comelec personnel as well as Smartmatic employees, with Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon stating that Smartmatic had violated protocols.<ref name="INQUIREphil">{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/785566/smartmatic-faces-probe|title=Smartmatic faces probe|last1=Uy|first1=Jocelyn R.|date=14 May 2016|work=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=}}</ref> After a Smartmatic employee fled the country, Bongbong Marcos accused the Comelec for his "escape", though two other Smartmatic personnel, one from Venezuela and the other from Israel, were present for criminal proceedings.<ref name="BONGsmart">{{cite news|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/comelec-hit-for-escape-of-smartmatic-engineer/268793/|title=Comelec hit for escape of Smartmatic engineer - The Manila Times Online|date=19 June 2016|work=[[The Manila Times]]|accessdate=}}</ref> In July 2016, it was reported that Smartmatic funneled votes through "unofficial servers".<ref name="SMARTservers" /> In an October 2016 editorial, ''The Manila Times'' called on all members of Comelec to resign due to the "innumerable controversies since its adoption of the Smartmatic-based Automated Election System".<ref name="SMARTresign" />

On June 7, 2017, the Philippine Department of Justice [[indicted]] "several Smartmatic and Comelec personnel for changing the script in the election transparency server on election night during the May 2016 national and local polls". Those charged with the tampering include Marlon Garcia, the head of the Smartmatic's Technical Support Team, as well as two other Smartmatic employees, Neil Baniqued and Mauricio Herrera, and Comelec IT employees Rouie Peñalba, Nelson Herrera, and Frances Mae Gonzales. The six were charged with "illegal access, data interference, and system interference" under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.<ref name="ABScbnIND">{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/07/17/smartmatic-comelec-personnel-ordered-indicted-for-halalan-2016-script-alteration|title=Smartmatic, Comelec personnel ordered indicted for Halalan 2016 script alteration|last1=News|first1=Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN|date=7 June 2017|work=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]]|accessdate=}}</ref>

On June 7, 2017, the Philippine Department of Justice indicted "several Smartmatic and Comelec personnel for changing the script in the election transparency server on election night during the May 2016 national and local polls". Those charged with the tampering include Marlon Garcia, the head of the Smartmatic's Technical Support Team, as well as two other Smartmatic employees, Neil Baniqued and Mauricio Herrera, and Comelec IT employees Rouie Peñalba, Nelson Herrera, and Frances Mae Gonzales. The six were charged with "illegal access, data interference, and system interference" under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.<ref name="ABScbnIND">{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/07/17/smartmatic-comelec-personnel-ordered-indicted-for-halalan-2016-script-alteration|title=Smartmatic, Comelec personnel ordered indicted for Halalan 2016 script alteration|last1=News|first1=Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN|date=7 June 2017|work=[[ABS-CBN Corporation]]|accessdate=}}</ref>

In August 2017, it was revealed that Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista was allegedly paid commissions by Divina Law while serving as chairman "for assisting the law firm clients with the Comelec". Divina Law, a firm that provides legal advice to Smartmatic. Bautista admitted that he obtained "referral fees", but denied that it was due to his position in Comelec. According to House Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque, the incident is "a very clear case of bribery" by Smartmatic.<ref name="CNNdivina">{{cite news|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/08/Comelec-Andy-Bautista-Smartmatic-unexplained-wealth.html|title=Solon: Bautista's 'receipt of fee for Smartmatic referral' casts doubt on 2016 polls|date=9 August 2017|work=[[CNN]]|accessdate=|language=en}}</ref>

In August 2017, it was revealed that Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista was allegedly paid commissions by Divina Law while serving as chairman "for assisting the law firm clients with the Comelec". Divina Law, a firm that provides legal advice to Smartmatic. Bautista admitted that he obtained "referral fees", but denied that it was due to his position in Comelec. According to House Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque, the incident is "a very clear case of bribery" by Smartmatic.<ref name="CNNdivina">{{cite news|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/08/08/Comelec-Andy-Bautista-Smartmatic-unexplained-wealth.html|title=Solon: Bautista's 'receipt of fee for Smartmatic referral' casts doubt on 2016 polls|date=9 August 2017|work=[[CNN]]|accessdate=|language=en}}</ref>