Former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alfiler)
MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) denied involvement in the dissemination of an alleged emergency warning when former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City on Wednesday.
"We wish to clarify that the NDRRMC does not issue this type of message for distribution to the public through our telco (telecommunications) partners. Our usage of the emergency mobile alerts system only follows the prescription of RA (Republic Act) 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Law which requires that warning messages must be hazard-specific, time-bound, and area-specific," NDRRMC deputy spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal said in a message to reporters.
Members of the media who were covering the sixth day of the COC filing period received the alert message when Marcos arrived at the filing venue.
"Buong Buo ang Malasakit sa Bansa. Buong Buhay ang Maialay sa taong bayan. Bagong Bukas na Masagana para sa masa. BaBangon Muli ang Pilipinas. BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa Masa.. BBM Pilipinas!!! #BBM2022," the alert message read.
He added that emergency notifications issued by the NDRRMC on Wednesday are only about rainfall warnings due to the current weather disturbance.
Timbal said they have already consulted with the agency's telco partners about the incident.
He added that these entities said the message did not come from them.
"We trust that the National Telecommunications Commission will be looking into this matter. Our people can be assured that the NDRRMC reserves the use of its warning systems for their mandated purpose only, that is to provide proper and timely warning to our people regarding natural hazards," he added.
Ill-advised political propaganda
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the use of an emergency alert system for political purposes is unwise.
“Needless to say, the use of the emergency alert system for political propaganda purposes is ill-advised, at best. (On) whether or not criminal liability will be attached to those who are behind this move, this will have to be determined by the appropriate agencies of government,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
Jimenez added that no election law provides a penalty for the use of such channels for campaigning.
“However, it can be safely assumed that the emergency alert system operates under a set of guidelines, and it can be further assumed that such guidelines would prohibit the use of the emergency alert system for anything other than emergencies,” he added.
'Underhanded moves'
In a statement on Wednesday, Marcos chief-of-staff, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, said such “underhanded moves” should not be tolerated as the emergency alert system is a tool used to warn the public of disasters.
“We hope that the responsible parties do not interfere with government systems just to operate political sabotage against presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos,” Rodriguez said.
He supported the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and its intention to investigate the improper use of the emergency alert system.
Earlier, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba ordered an “immediate” investigation into the emergency alerts, with telecommunications companies so far confirming that they did not release any such messages. (with reports from Raymond Carl Dela Cruz/PNA)
