PNP nabs 3 alleged hackers claiming poll data breach

Three individuals allegedly part of the XSOS hacker group, identified as Joel Ilagan, Adrian de Jesus Martines, and mastermind Jeffrey Cruz Limpiado, were apprehended by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) following entrapment operations in Cavite and Laguna.

The suspects are accused of involvement in a supposed data breach targeting poll software provider Smartmatic, and they possessed data on polling precincts nationwide, including codes and numbers.

According to CICC executive director Undersecretary Cesar Mancao, the XSOS group is known for stealing data from government and private entities for profit.

Mancao stated that the group attempted to sell their services to rig the electoral process for P60 million, with a P10 million downpayment, and threatened to release compromised data if their demands were not met.

However, Mancao clarified that the group could not have had access to the Comelec automated election system, suggesting their claims of rigging elections were a ploy to scam candidates.

The hackers also claimed on the dark web that they could manipulate election results, and based on an earlier National Bureau of Investigation probe, XSOX first contacted Smartmatic in January, claiming network infiltration.