Palace says SMS emergency blasters shouldn't be abused

Malacañang said Tuesday SMS emergency blasters should not be abused, particularly by candidates seeking national and local posts this Eleksyon 2025. 

''Huwag po sanang abusuhin ang… itong emergency cell broadcast system dahil ito po, 'pag sinabi pong emergency ay dapat pang-emergency lamang po. Hindi po ‘to dapat inaabuso ng sinuman para sa pansariling kapakanan,''  Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing.

(The emergency cell broadcast system shouldn't be abused... because this should only be used during emergencies. This shouldn't be abused by anyone for their own interest.)

Those who violate relevant regulations on this, Castro said, would be penalized. 

She added that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are already looking into the issue.

''Nagkaroon na rin po ng pag-iimbestiga ang DICT at ang NTC patungkol po dito at sinuman po na mapapatunayang nagkaroon ng paglabag sa batas ay sasampahan po ng kaso,'' she said. 

(The DICT and the NTC are already investigating this matter. Those who are found to have violated the laws will be slapped with cases.)

This came after the NTC issued a warning to the public against SMS promoting certain election candidates sent through emergency alert systems.

In a statement, the NTC said these messages are sent through a feature available in some SMS blasters that uses the cell broadcast or flash SMS option found in software controlling SMS blaster machines.

Those found using and selling SMS blasters may face imprisonment of up to 12 years and a fine of up to P500,000 for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act, SIM Registration Act, and NTC rules and regulations. — AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News