MANILA, Philippines -- Media personnel present at Sofitel's Harbor Garden for COC filing were confused when they received an "Emergency alert: Severe" advisory on their phones. Upon reading the content of the notification, it was a wily message campaigning for Bongbong Marcos' presidential candidacy. 

Attendees received an emergency alert tagged #BBM2022 during the COC filing | IMG Source: Inquirer.net

Marcos' lawyer and chief of staff, Atty. Vic Rodriguez denied the allegations. He said that whoever set up the alert system intended to derail Marcos' presidential bid. He relayed that Marcos' family also received the same notification. 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) immediately stated that they had nothing to do with it. They further reiterated that usage of the emergency alert system operates under RA 10369, Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act. This Republic Act orders that warning messages must be urgent, area-specific, and hazard-specific. NDRRMC expressed that "people can be assured that NDRRMC reserves the use of warning systems for their mandated purpose only, that is to provide proper and timely warning to our people regarding natural hazards." 

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares justified on Wednesday that if an investigation concludes that Marcos was behind the emergency alert for his campaign, it is grounds for Filipino citizens to deny his presidential candidacy.

"Kung totoo ito, 'di lang ill-gotten wealth, ill-gotten airwaves din pala," added Colmenares.