Mobile emergency warnings are used by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its partner telcos to alert Filipinos during calamities like earthquakes and typhoons.
However, it looks like it was used in a way that it wasn’t intended to when a few people shared screenshots of getting a similar emergency alert, but seems to be a political ad for presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Select people apparently received the alert when the presidentiable filed his certificate of candidacy at the Sofitel Tent in Pasay last October 6.
The alert writes:
Emergency Alert:
Buong Buo ang Malasakit sa Bansa. Buong buo ang Maialay sa taong bayan. Bagong bukas na Masagana para sa masa. Babangon Muli and Pilipinas. BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa masa, BBM Pilipinas!
NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal clarified that they did not issue this type of message to their telco partners to distribute to its subscribers.
He said that the emergency mobile alert system is implemented under the Republic Act 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Law, which specifies that the “warning messages must be hazard-specific, time-bound, and area-specific.”
Update: The NDRRMC issued a statement regarding the issue via its Facebook page.
Update 2: In a statement given to Rappler, NTC says they are still investigating the issue but speculates that the text blast might come from an illegal portable cell site. Telcos also denied involvement on the issue, as well as the Marcos camp themselves, who calls the matter a “demolition job.”
Via: Manila Bulletin