NTC orders probe into text alerts announcing Bongbong Marcos' presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines (Update 2 6:17 p.m.) — The National Telecommunications Commission on Wednesday ordered an investigation into emergency text blasts received by some phone users announcing the presidential bid of former Sen. Bongbong Marcos.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said this might be a violation of the Radio Control Law as the emergency alerts might have come from illegal operations of portable cellsites, according to a report from GMA News.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that its emergency alert system, which Filipinos reported was sending campaign ads for Bongbong Marcos, was not used to disseminate messages that have nothing to do with weather disturbances. 

The NDRRMC said authorities were already investigating the messages. 

"The NDRRMC does not issue this type of message for distribution to the public through our Telco partners," Mark Timbal, NDRRMC spokesperson, told reporters in a text message. 

Timbal said that the usage of the emergency alerts system is governed by Republic Act No. 10639, "which requires that warning messages must be hazard-specific, time-bound and area-specific."

"Emergency notifications issued today by the NDRRMC are only about rainfall warnings due to the current weather disturbance and nothing else," he also said, adding that this is the first time that the NDRRMC encountered an incident like this. 

Users on social media reportedly received the reports on Wednesday, the sixth day of the filing of certificates of candidacy period stipulated by the Commission on Elections. 

Former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, also filed his COC for the presidential race earlier that day.

While there is no doubt that this use of the emergency alert system is ill-advised at best, whether or not criminal liability will attach to those who are behind this move will have to be determined by the appropriate agencies of government. pic.twitter.com/Op2tiYZvRH

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) October 6, 2021

"The use of the emergency alert system for political propaganda purposes is ill-advised, at best. Whether or not criminal liability will attach to those who are behind this move will have to be determined by the appropriate agencies of government," James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said in a text message to reporters after confirming that the emergency alert system was indeed activated during the filing of Marcos' COC. 

The NDRRMC, under which the National Telecommunications Commission is a member, said the two bodies are already coordinating on the matter. 

Hijacked frequency?

Progressive leaders slammed the move in a joint statement later Wednesday, calling on the NTC to probe into the messages and explain how the Marcos campaign was able to "hijack the emergency alerts frequency."

"This casts serious doubt on the integrity of the system, which people are supposed to rely on for life-saving information. Aside from the NTC and the DITC, Congress should also probe this underhanded style of campaigning," Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna) said.

"If Marcos indeed hijacked the airwaves to campaign then their greed to return to Malacanang by hook or by crook should really be stopped," Makabayan senatorial bet and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares said for his part. 

It was Colmenares who principally authored R.A. 10639 which mandates NTC, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Telcos to issue text alerts during times of disasters and calamities.

"If they indeed hijacked the Bayan Muna authored law for emergency alerts, then they should be investigated. When we authored the bill, my intention was to help save lives. Not to be used for vested personal interest of politicians," Colmenares said in mixed Filipino and English. 

"If this is true, this isn't just a case of ill-gotten wealth, but ill gotten airwaves too." ended Colmenares. 

Marcos camp distances from supportive alerts

Lawyer Victor Rodriguez, Marcos' chief of staff claimed that the messages were a "demolition [job] unleashed by those who obviously want to frustrate his candidacy," adding that Marcos himself received similar notifications.

"We should not tolerate any group or groups’ underhanded moves to trivialize this very special tool meant to forewarn every single Filipino of an impending, actual, or post-disaster event or scenario," he said in a statement. 

Rodriguez said the Marcos campaign supported the NTC's move to investigate "the illegal use of the emergency alert notification text containing pro-Bongbong Marcos narratives."

"To those behind this despicable deed, we appeal that you do not please mess with a functioning government system that is purposely meant to save lives just so you may advance your agenda of derailing the candidacy of [Marcos.]"

— Franco Luna with report from Xave Gregorio