EMERGENCY alerts were sent out to mobile phone subscribers nationwide on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, but instead of a warning against disasters, the alerts contained a political campaign message promoting BBM.
BBM refers to former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He has filed his certificate of candidacy for president in the May 2022 elections.
The "emergency alert" states:
"Buong Buo ang Malasakit sa Bansa.
Buong Buhay ang Maialay sa taong bayan.
Bagong Bukas na Masagana para sa masa.
BaBangon Muli ang Pilipinas (V)
BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa Masa.
BBM Pilipinas!!!
#BBM2022@"
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez, in a tweet, said "there is no penalty specifically for the use of emergency channels for campaigning" under the current electoral laws.
"However, it can be assumed that the emergency alert system operates under guidelines that would prevent the use of the system for non-emergency uses," he said.
"While there is no doubt that this use of the emergency alert system is ill-advised at best, whether or not criminal liability will attach to those who are behind this move will have to be determined by the appropriate agencies of government," he added.
Under Republic Act 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, mobile phone service providers are mandated to send out alerts at regular intervals to warn citizens of an impending tropical storm, typhoon, tsunami, or other calamities.
The alerts are based on advisories from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and other relevant agencies.
The alerts, in the form of SMS (text message), MMS or email, are sent to mobile phone subscribers located near and within the affected areas.
The law also states that "any person who gives false or misleading data or information or willfully or through gross negligence, conceals or falsifies a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry, study, or other proceeding held pursuant to this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment" of two to six months and a fine of up to P10,000.
The Marcos family was driven out of MalacaƱang by the People's Revolution in February 1986, 14 years after the late dictator imposed martial law. (MVI / SunStar Philippines)