OCD condemns political campaigning via emergency broadcast system

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.

The ECBS is exclusively designated for disseminating critical life-saving alerts during emergencies like earthquakes and typhoons, not for political endorsements.

The OCD warns that using the ECBS for campaigning can confuse the public and diminish their response to genuine emergency notifications, potentially risking lives.

Reports indicate that residents in some provinces have received ECBS messages promoting specific candidates, which the agency states mimic urgent alerts and could foster complacency during real crises.

Telecommunications companies Globe Telecom and Smart Communications have confirmed they do not utilize the ECBS for non-emergency communications.

The OCD has reported the issue to the National Telecommunications Commission and is collaborating with other agencies to pinpoint the individuals responsible for this misuse.

The agency asserts that employing the ECBS for political advantage is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.