THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) reiterated the warning against making or spreading false bomb threats online, confirming that criminal charges have been formally filed against a 19-year-old individual who posted a bomb joke during a live broadcast of the Kadayawan Festival.
The suspect was charged before the Office of the City Prosecutor for violating Presidential Decree No. 1727, also known as the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, which penalizes the malicious dissemination of false information concerning bombs and explosives.
Police authorities arrested the suspect after cybercrime investigators traced a live stream comment claiming an explosive device had been planted along the Davao Coastal Road during festival events.
Special units from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams immediately swept the area and verified that the threat was false.
As of this writing, the suspect remains in police custody, with bail set at ₱42,000.
DCPO director PCOL Peter B. Madria emphasized that the arrest serves as a direct legal warning to individuals behind a recent spate of online bomb hoaxes targeting local schools and educational institutions across Davao City.
“Public safety is never a joke, and spreading false threats is a punishable crime under the law,” Madria warned in an official statement.
“A reckless comment creates public panic and wastes vital security resources. What happened to this suspect will happen to anyone else who commits this crime. To those targeting our schools or public gatherings: we treat every threat with absolute seriousness. Whatever it takes, anyone who violates the law shall face its full length.”
Local law enforcement agencies warned that online pranks carry severe legal repercussions, including immediate arrest, formal criminal records, and potential imprisonment.
Police cybercrime units remain actively deployed to monitor digital platforms, track IP addresses, and prosecute individuals creating or sharing false threat reports.
The police command reiterated its appeal to the public, parents, and students to exercise responsibility on social media and refrain from sharing unverified security claims that cause unnecessary public alarm.
