OCD decries misuse of emergency broadcast system for political campaign

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) strongly denounced the “inappropriate” use of the Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) for political campaigning by some candidates in the upcoming elections.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the ECBS is designed exclusively for issuing life-saving alerts during emergencies such as earthquakes, typhoons, and other public safety threats.

“Utilizing it for political messages not only undermines its critical purpose but also risks desensitizing the public to genuine emergencies, potentially endangering lives,” he said in a statement late Sunday, April 6.

According to the OCD, it has received multiple reports from residents in certain provinces who reported receiving ECBS alerts which included political content urging them to vote for specific candidates.