The Commission on Elections and Smartmatic held a press conference yesterday to reiterate their assurance that the automated election system is hack-proof.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal says laboratory testing is now being conducted on the Precinct Count Optimal Scan machines in their warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Field tests are also set to commence before the end of the month. Comelec has already identified areas where field tests will be conducted. These are located in Pateros; Taguig City; Bakun, Benguet; Naga City, Cebu; and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Larrazabal explains that the field tests will simulate the whole voting, counting and canvassing process.

The tests will involve representatives from the Technical Evaluation Committee, Comelec Advisory Council, Department of Science and Technology, and Smartmatic-TIM.

Comelec is still in the process of completing a total of 82,000 PCOS machines. It now has more than 25,000 stored in the Cabuyao warehouse.  Another shipment of 8,000 machines are reportedly on its way to Manila.