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Philippines

Comelec says using the emergency alert system for political propaganda a reprehensible tactic

Philippines

Comelec says using the emergency alert system for political propaganda a reprehensible tactic

By Leslie Ann Aquino

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said using the emergency alert system for political propaganda is a "reprehensible tactic."

Comelec/MB

"It is unreservedly wrong. Unfortunately, it is not a violation of any electoral law that I am aware of mainly because I don’t think the law ever anticipated that there would be an emergency alert system, second the law doesn't really prohibit that sort of thing, again, in general terms that’s not covered by law," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said at the sidelines of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) at Sofitel Tent in Pasay City, Wednesday, Oct. 6.

"However, I am convinced that it is a violation of some law because it’s done in an emergency alert system. An emergency alert system I would suppose operates under guidelines that prevent or prohibit its use for non-emergency situations. So I am pretty sure that this is in violation of something,"he added.

Jimenez was reacting to the emergency alerts that the media covering the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City received.

The "emergency alert" message reads: "Buong Buo ang Malasakit sa Bansa. Buong Buhay ang Maialay sa taong bayan. Bagong Bukas na Masagana para sa masa. BaBangon Muli ang Pilipinas (V). BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa Masa.. BBM Pilipinas!!! #BBM2022@"

"Whoever did this has to be held accountable. This is a reprehensible strategy and it should not be replicated by anyone and I hope that the relevant agencies will move heaven and earth to find out who did this and hold them to account," said Jimenez.

Related Tags

james jimenez Comelec

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