OCD condemns ECBS misuse for political campaigning

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) condemned on Sunday the 'inappropriate use' of the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning, saying it undermines its critical purpose.

Reports indicate that residents in several provinces received ECBS messages containing political content urging them to vote for specific candidates, which could lead to public complacency during genuine emergencies.

Residents from Masbate City reported receiving a campaign message at around 10:45 a.m. on April 3, 2025, causing initial alarm before realizing it was not an emergency alert.

Telecommunications companies Globe Telecom and Smart Communications confirmed they do not use ECBS for non-emergency purposes and have not sent any political campaign alerts.

The OCD has referred the matter to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for investigation and urged the public to report further misuse to protect the integrity of emergency alert systems.