Manila residents finally get cell signal back

After going through nearly 24 hours without a mobile phone signal, residents in Manila and nearby areas finally got their cell phones working again Tuesday.

 

In a post on its Twitter account, Globe Telecom said its signal was finally "available" in the Manila area as of 9 a.m.

 

"Globe signal is now available within Manila area," it said.

 

The message was in contrast to its message before 8 a.m., when subscribers criticized it for delays in the delivery of text messages.

 

One subscriber tweeted receiving a text messages nearly two hours late.

 

"We cannot determine since the national security measures are still ongoing," Globe replied at the time.

 

Another telecom firm, Smart, was even more cryptic in announcing the resumption of services.

 

"Happy Tuesday! Have a nice day everyone! :)," it said.

 

On Monday, both telecom firms had cited "national security" in the disruption of mobile phone services in Manila.

 

Malacañang confirmed asking telecom firms to cut or jam signals in the route of the Black Nazarene procession, citing a terrorist threat.

 

The procession lasted 22 hours and ended at 6 a.m. Tuesday, when the image of the Black Nazarene was brought inside the Quiapo Church.

 

NDRRMC admits problems in data-gathering

 

Even the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council admitted having problems gathering data on the number of people injured in the procession.

 

"(The Office of Civil Defense for Metro Manila) encountered difficulty in gathering reports of casualties due to loss of mobile phone signals along the procession areas," it said.

 

But it said partial reports indicated 769 people were treated as of 10 p.m. Monday, including:

–KG, GMA News