The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said investigating the use of the emergency mobile alert system for campaign purposes is already beyond its jurisdiction.
In a brief statement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez explained the use of emergency channels for campaigning is not penalized by electoral law.
But, he noted such action could have violated other government guidelines.
“Whether or not criminal liability will attach to those who are behind this move will have to be determined by the appropriate agencies of government,” Jimenez said.
The poll body issued the clarification after reports of how the emergency warning by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRMC) was used to promote a certain candidate.
The said emergency warning was supposedly sent to some people who did not identify a particular candidate but instead made use of the acronym BBM.
Among the aspiring candidates for the 2022 polls, it is Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos, Jr. who is ascribed the BBM acronym by supporters and the public.
NDRRMC denied it issued the said controversial and spurious emergency warning. It noted that such notification is only reserved for “rainfall warnings due to the current weather disturbance.”
House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate called for an investigation of the “hijacking” incident, which he noted breached government protocols.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced last Wednesday it is already investigating the matter.
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