EDITORIAL - Jammed signals

Customs authorities say they are unaware of the entry of signal jammers in the country. Even if the authorities see the devices, they may not recognize the jammers. But personnel of other agencies have, and are now warning the public that it is illegal to use the devices.

Law enforcement officials emphasize that while the devices cannot alter the results of automated elections, jammers can delay the transmission of data and therefore the proclamation of winners. A businessman and his three employees have been apprehended on charges of selling the jammers. The four will be prosecuted for violating the Tariff and Customs Code and the E-Commerce Law.

With less than three weeks before the midterm elections, political violence is escalating and tension is running high in several areas. The use of signal jammers, whether for partisan ends or plain mischief, can only aggravate volatile situations. It’s possible that the devices were brought in through the country’s porous coastlines, where every type of contraband including guns, drugs and motorcycles can be brought in after being transferred from large ships to smaller boats in the high seas.

With no record of the jammers’ entry at Customs, it’s hard to determine how many people are now in possession of the device. The best that authorities can do is go after the dealers, seize the illegal gadgets and try to trace all the buyers. Authorities must then ensure the proper prosecution of those involved. The country has enough problems with worsening political violence. On election day, authorities must ensure that there will be no major glitches.