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Illegal use of emergency text alerts: Sen. Grace Poe asks officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) during the deliberation of the P10.5 billion budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology Wednesday, November 17, 2021 on how the agency could prevent the country’s emergency text alerts from being used by unscrupulous individuals to illegally promote products and services or besmirch the reputation of others. Poe made the inquiry after receiving reports that emergency text alerts were used to promote certain products and even certain individuals. “I understand that it is really possible that the NTC… is not connected with this scheme because it will be detrimental to them, especially if it’s known that they used an official government channel to spread information,” Poe said. Allaying the fear of Poe, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the NTC is seeking assistance from the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to identify those who are behind this scheme. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)