DILG asks public to keep eyes peeled for signal jammers on Election Day

The Department of Interior and Local Government on Thursday asked the public to keep a close watch on signal jammers that may interfere with the electronic transmission of poll results come the May 13 midterm elections, saying anyone caught in possession such device could face 12 years prison term. “Imbes na ilihim, minarapat namin na magbigay ng pampublikong babala. 'Pag nakakita kayo ng instrumentong ito, bantayan natin, dahil hindi po tama ito, hindi legal ang pag gamit nito sa araw ng election,” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas told reporters at a joint press conference with the Comelec and the National Telecommunications Commission in Camp Crame. “Mas mabuti magmasid tayo, mabantayan, imbes na di natin alam,” he added. COMELEC Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr. also took the time to remind the public that interfering with the transmission of election results is both a criminal and an election offense. “If you interfere with transmission it's an election offense. It’s also criminal and means eight years to 12 years jail time, konteng-konti lang naman,” Brillantes said. A signal jammer is a device used to disrupt radio signals between cellular towers and mobile phones, preventing data transmission. If placed near a handset, it can prevent the phone from getting a signal. If directed at a local cellular antenna tower, it can stop the tower from receiving transmissions from mobile phones covering a geographical region. During the press conference, Roxas demonstrated the use of a signal jammer and asked reporters present to check their handsets. Roxas said that based on intelligence information gathered by the Philippine National Police on his directive, smuggled signal jammers can be purchased for a minimal amount in the country, and can be dangerous come election day. Also, he said the Comelec will be using GSM network radio signals – the same kind used by cellular mobile phones for calls and SMS – to transmit the election results from the precinct to other servers on the May elections. “Yung pinaka basic, murang mura, 'di ko na babanggitin kung magkano. 'Yung pinaka-sophisticated, may mga modelo na pwede i-plug sa lighter sa sasakyan. Nagpaikot kasi ako ng isang sibilyan... sa loob ng isang araw, nabili niya ang lahat ng apat na ito,” Roxas said, showing reporters signal jammers that closely resembled wifi routers. “Sumatotal ng gastos, kulang-kulang treyinta mil, sa loob ng isang araw, nakabili siya. Ang ibig sabihin madaling makakuha nito at di gaanong kamahal,” Roxas said. “Itong mga gadgets na to, regulated. Para itong mga baril, yung mga baril iparehistro sa firearms office, ganito rin ito, kailangan irehistro,” Roxas added. Meanwhile Commissioner Brillantes enumerated the corresponding consequences of illegally using a signal jammer during election day. “Warning sa gagamit, eight to 12 years in jail with no parole, plus perpetual disqualification of holding public office and the forfeiture of right to suffrage,” Brillantes said. Also, he said he believes it will be easy to get a conviction once anyone is found to be in possession of a signal jamming device on Election Day. “Di naman siguro mahirap i-prove na 'pag may jammer ka sa Election Day, and you are near polling area, [that] you will be liable for election offense. Warning na ho 'yan,” he said. “[Moreover] possession of smuggled good 'yan, [meaning] two years imprisonment,” Brillantes added, saying signal jammers are not manufactured locally. Brillantes also made an appeal for the voting public to be vigilant on days leading to Election Day, as well as on May 13 itself, saying the loss of their cellular phone signals in polling precincts should be immediately reported. “Dapat bantayan ng mabuti 'to. We don't have enough manpower to do this. Now we have to make it public at kailangan makita ng lahat ng tao,” Brillantes said. “'Pag mawalan kayo ng signal sa isang polling district, magmanman at i-report sa mga awtoridad, para mahanap [yung device,]” he added. “[Meron nang] hotlines, may nagmamanman 24 hours seven days a week, simula kahapon at hanggang Election Day,” Brillantes said. — LBG, GMA News