Political campaigning via emergency alerts will not be tolerated — OCD

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has strongly condemned the alleged misuse of the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning, warning that such actions are not only inappropriate but also potentially life-threatening.

In a statement released on Sunday, the OCD stressed that the ECBS is an essential public safety tool meant solely for issuing life-saving alerts during emergencies such as earthquakes, typhoons, and other imminent threats. Any attempt to repurpose the system for political gain undermines its integrity and could desensitize the public to legitimate alerts, the agency warned.

“The misuse of this system for political gain is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the OCD said. “Utilizing it for political messages not only undermines its critical purpose but also risks desensitizing the public to genuine emergencies, potentially endangering lives.”

The warning follows multiple reports from residents across several provinces who allegedly received ECBS alerts urging them to vote for specific candidates. These messages were designed to mimic official emergency alerts, causing confusion and concern among recipients.

“These misleading alerts create confusion and may lead to complacency during actual crises,” the OCD added.

Telecommunications providers Globe Telecom and Smart Communications have since confirmed to the OCD that they did not send out any ECBS messages for political purposes. Both companies emphasized that the system is exclusively used for emergencies and is not available for use by private individuals or organizations for any non-emergency activities.

“The telecommunications providers have assured us that they do not offer ECBS services for political or commercial use,” the OCD said.

In response, the OCD has referred the matter to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and is coordinating closely with relevant agencies to identify and hold accountable those behind the unauthorized broadcasts.