Election Data, Voter Records Safe After Comelec Fire

The Commission on Elections on Monday said election results and voter registration data were safe and unaffected after a fire broke out in the building which housed its main office on Sunday night.

The fire, which Comelec personnel discovered at the 7th floor of its main office in Palacio del Gobernador Building in Intramuros, Manila, reached second alarm at around 7 p.m. on Sunday and was declared out about an hour later, spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said.

The incident had "limited damage to property and equipment" as the fire was contained at the reception area of the Comelec's Information and Technology Department, Laudiangco said.

"As to the Election Results and Data, please note that the same are safe, secure, intact and unaffected, and remains to be on live posting, both at the Comelec official website and the Election Results Website," he said.

"Similarly, Voter’s Registration Data are safe, secure, intact and unaffected at another secured vault, with the back-up at a secured off-site location dedicated for the purpose," he added.

Last July 23, the Comelec concluded its voter registration activities in preparation for the 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled in December.

The poll body's servers and vaults as well as equipment and documents in all offices and departments at the main office are likewise safe, intact, and undamaged, Laudiangco said.

Personnel from the IT Department, as well as guards, electricians, and other general services personnel from the Comelec and in the building were also evacuated safely, he added.

All offices and departments located in the Palacio Del Gobernador building will be on work-from-status starting Monday, with limited skeleton workforce, as the Bureau of Fire Protection investigates the fire incident.

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