MANILA, Philippines—Emergency alerts popped up on mobile phones on Wednesday at Sofitel in Pasay City not for a quake or a storm but to scream support for the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who filed his certificate of candidacy for president.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which usually sends out such alerts for extreme weather events, was quick to clarify that it had nothing to do with it.
The alerts came with the hashtag #BBM2022. BBM stood for Bongbong Marcos.
Screengrab of emergency alert on mobile phone
The alerts were received by some people, including journalists, shortly after Marcos filed his COC for president at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) tent on Sofitel grounds.
“We wish to clarify that the NDRRMC does not issue this type of message for distribution to the public through our telco partners,” said the NDRRMC.
“Our usage of the emergency mobile alerts system only follows the prescription of RA 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act which requires that warning messages must be hazard-specific, time-bound and area-specific,” “it added.
The NDRRMC said it has reached out to its telco partners, which said they knew nothing about the alerts.
“We trust that the National Telecommunications Commission will be looking into this matter,” said the NDRRMC.
“Our people can be assured that the NDRRMC reserves the use of its warning systems for their mandated purpose only, that is to provide proper and timely warning to our people regarding natural hazards,” the agency said.