DICT: Poll bets who use text blasting will be charged
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday warned candidates in the May 12 elections that it would file charges against those caught using text blasting machines.
Secretary Ivan John Uy reminded candidates that text blast machines were illegal, unlicensed and covered by the regulations of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party list groups will be from Feb. 11 to May 10, and between March 28 and May 10 for those running for congressional, provincial, city and municipal seats.
“We will be deploying teams all over the country. We will be monitoring any text blasting. We can trace that, once we monitor them,” Uy told reporters at a press conference at Camp Crame.
“We will definitely confiscate that, file appropriate criminal charges … It’s a warning to all candidates,” he said.
The DICT chief issued the warning a day after a 46-year-old Malaysian was arrested in Parañaque City for selling text blast machines with international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) modules.
The suspect, identified as Thiang Choon Wee, is allegedly the leader of a syndicate that supplies IMSI or fake cell towers that can be used to track the location and activity of targeted phones, in addition to intercepting messages, calls and data traffic.
It can also be used for spam texting without a database or a SIM card and Wi-Fi.
Ballot printing update
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia, meanwhile, said the printing of official ballots would resume on Saturday, barring any more disqualified candidates securing temporary restraining orders (TROs) from the Supreme Court.
Garcia told reporters that it would take two to three days to update the election management system (EMS) database, generate new ballot faces and conduct another round of ballot serialization to include senatorial aspirant Francis Leo Marcos and Albay gubernatorial candidate Noel Rosal. They were the latest candidates to secure TROs that barred the poll body from disqualifying them from running in May.
Garcia said that Comelec officials and personnel would work overtime, if needed, on the EMS so that printing could resume on Saturday, or possibly as early as Friday afternoon.
“We will comply [with], respect and follow the directive of the honorable Supreme Court. Let us remember that the TRO is a temporary remedy. It’s not the final decision on the merits of the case,” he added.
