Malacañang has issued a stern warning to election candidates against misusing the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigns, emphasizing that the system is intended only for genuine emergency situations.
The Office of Civil Defense recently raised concerns about reports from various provinces where residents allegedly received ECBS alerts urging them to vote for specific candidates. In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are already investigating these claims.
Castro stressed that the ECBS should not be exploited for personal or political gain. “Huwag po sanang abusuhin itong emergency cell broadcast system dahil ito po, ‘pag sinabi pong emergency ay dapat pang-emergency lamang po,” she said.
She also warned that those found violating the law will face legal consequences. “Nagkaroon na rin po ng pag-iimbestiga ang DICT at ang NTC patungkol po dito at sinuman po na mapapatunayang nagkaroon ng paglabag sa batas ay sasampahan po ng kaso.”
The ECBS, designed to alert the public during life-threatening situations such as earthquakes and typhoons, plays a vital role in the country’s disaster response system.
