Rappler
Emergency alerts used for elections; Comelec says it’s illegal
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared the use of emergency cellular alert messages for political campaigning as illegal.
Residents of Masbate received emergency alert messages on April 3, urging them to vote for specific members of the Kho family for various local positions in the upcoming May 12, 2025 polls.
The alert messages listed Richard Kho for Governor, Fernando 'Andot' Talisic for vice governor, Elisa 'Olga' Kho for 2nd District Representative, and Ara Olga Kho for City Mayor.
Recipients like Christian Dometia Zaragoza expressed alarm and panic, initially mistaking the alerts for warnings of natural disasters.
Zaragoza questioned the use of emergency alert systems for political purposes, citing concerns about data privacy violations and the unnecessary panic caused among residents.
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The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) strongly condemns the alleged misuse of the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning, deeming it inappropriate and hazardous.
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Malacañang has warned politicians against using the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning, stating that such misuse is illegal and could lead to serious consequences.
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The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has warned the public against fake emergency broadcast messages being used to promote political candidates.
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