THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday turned over the source code to the Central Bank where it would be put in escrow.
“We will turn over the source code. There are two of them. One is for the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) and the other is for the canvassing system,” said Comelec Chairman Jose Melo before the official turnover took place.
The source code contained in two compact discs was placed inside the small black steel box.
“You are all witnesses to this. There are two of them and then this hash code will just put it also there. I’ll fold it and will insert it into the steel box and now we will close and seal it,” the poll body chief said.
After closing the box, Melo signed the four paper seals for added security.
Also present during the sealing were Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco.
For his part, Sarmiento explained the purpose of the source code.
“The source code is the software or handwritten instructions on how the PCOS machines will operate. This has been subjected to examination by the political parties. This has been reviewed by Systest Labs and they are satisfied with the source code,” he said.
Republic Act 9339 requires the Comelec to keep the master copy of the source code in escrow with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (FP/Sunnex)