GENERAL SANTOS City — People attending a prayer rally against a controversial power deal received unsolicited text messages offering ₱500 and promoting the same agreement they were protesting, raising questions about how their mobile numbers were obtained and used.
The messages were sent to mobile phones of attendees at the “Kahayag sa Tanan” (Light for All) prayer rally at Plaza Heneral Santos on Saturday, Aug. 29.
One message told recipients they could claim ₱500 for attending the rally through their GKK leader.
Another promoted the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) involving South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) and Ignite Power Corp., saying the deal would lead to more reliable electricity, lower costs and fewer brownouts.
The messages immediately drew concern among attendees, particularly over how the senders appeared to know that the recipients were at the rally.
The issue took a more serious turn after one of the messages appeared to have been sent using the mobile number of Fr. Angel Buenavides, vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marbel.
Buenavides told Mindanao Gold Star that he did not send the message offering ₱500 to rally participants, saying his number had apparently been used without his authorization.
“I am calling all GKK officials and members not to be deceived by the text messages using my number that I am giving Php500 for those that attended the prayer rally,” Buenavides said.
He urged consumers to remain vigilant as the controversy over the SOCOTECO II JVA continues.
“Standing for transparency, participation and accountability is our call for all our people, especially on the issue of SOCOTECO II JVA. Let us not be deceived by money, power and influence of those who seek to take over our SOCOTECO II,” he said.
The incident has also raised questions about possible data privacy violations and the use of spoofed or compromised mobile numbers to influence public opinion.
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), which joined the prayer rally, condemned the messages and linked them to efforts to promote the proposed JVA.
“Using unsolicited messages to target peaceful rally attendees is an attempt to influence people and manufacture consent,” said Daisy Aballe, PMCJ Mindanao area coordinator.
Aballe said consumers should be given accurate information and a genuine opportunity to decide on the future of their electric cooperative.
The proposed JVA would give Ignite Power a controlling interest in SOCOTECO II. The agreement has faced opposition from groups and member-consumer-owners who are questioning the transparency of the deal and its possible impact on consumers.
As of publication, organizers and telecommunications authorities have yet to publicly explain how the messages were distributed or how Buenavides' mobile number came to be associated with the ₱500 offer.
For rally attendees, however, the unsolicited messages have added another concern to an already heated debate: who has access to their personal information, and who is behind the effort to influence them over the future of SOCOTECO II?
