2 weeks Ago
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday that it has reported to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) certain candidates who allegedly use text blasting for political campaigns. Poll chairman George Garcia explained that such text blasts used for campaigning are not in violation of election law, but of telecommunications law, among others. He also warned of possible perilous effects of using text blasting machines for other purposes aside from emergencies.
“‘Yan pong mga emergency devices na ganyan ay ginagamit kapag may natural calamities or disasters. Ibig sabihin, nakaka-interfere po ‘yan sa ating mga coordinating agencies na ang purpose ay mapigilian ‘yung mismong epekto sa tao ng kalamidad katulad ng baha, lindol, o kahit sunog,” Garcia said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (Those emergency devices are used only when there are natural calamities or disasters.
If candidates use that, they interfere with our coordinating agencies whose purpose is to prevent the impact of calamities such as floods, earthquakes, or even fires on people.) “So sana maunawaan nila na sila po ay nakaka-create ng danger sa buhay ng ating mga mamamayan,” he added. (So I hope they understand that they are creating danger to the lives of our citizens.
) DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy earlier warned that charges will be filed against election candidates who will use text blasting machines for their campaigns, stressing that such equipment are illegal, unlicensed, and covered by the regulations of the NTC. In January, a 46-year-old Malaysian was arrested in Parañaque City for selling text blast machines with international mobile subscriber identity catcher (IMSI) that can also be used for scams. The suspect faces charges for violations of the Philippine Radio Stations and Radio Communications Regulation Act, the SIM Registration Act, the Data Privacy Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
—RF, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite ..
