October 14, 2021 | 00h00
MANILA, Philippines – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued show cause orders to Facebook Philippines, Shopee Philippines and Lazada E-Services Philippines Inc. for the sale of text blaster machines on their respective shopping platforms.
The NTC said yesterday that it had not authorized the import, manufacture, sale and distribution of these SMS sandblasting machines and similar equipment which were found sold on Facebook Marketplace as well as Shopee and Lazada.
The NTC has ordered companies to cease and desist from selling the products, as well as similar equipment regulated by the commission.
Any sale of such equipment, he said, appears to violate Republic Law 3846 or “the Radio Control Law”, as well as various rules and regulations such as NTC Memorandum 01-02- 2013 titled “Ban on portable and portable mobile repeaters. Cell site equipment.
Facebook, Shopee and Lazada were asked to appear before the NTC on October 27 and explain in writing within 15 days of receiving the order why they should not be held responsible for violations, as well as to submit infringing products to confiscation or confiscation.
“Failure to respond within the time limit hereby granted will be considered a waiver of the respondent’s right to be heard and the Commission will render a judgment to the extent that the law and the evidence can warrant,” said the NTC.
The CNT last week ordered an investigation into emergency text messages received by some phone users announcing the presidential candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said earlier that the emergency alert texts were likely sent from illegally acquired cell cell sites.
Portable cell sites are used during emergencies, disasters, or when communications are down, to send information via SMS.
Cabarios said only the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or agencies authorized by the NDRRMC are allowed to acquire and use these portable cell sites.
