BY ALEX ALAGON
FOLLOWING recent security scares in the city, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) issued a warning to the public on Thursday, Jan 22, that bomb threats are no joke, and those responsible will face up to five years in prison.
Acting city director Col Mannan Caracas Muarip emphasized that the DCPO is cracking down on the spread of false information regarding explosives, whether delivered in person or via social media.
“Public safety is our top priority,” Muarip stated. “The Davao City Police Office will exhaust all legal means to identify and prosecute those who cause alarm and fear through false threats.”
Under Presidential Decree No. 1727 (the Anti-Bomb Joke Law), any individual found guilty of spreading false information about bombs or explosives faces imprisonment of up to five years and up to P40,000 in fines.
The DCPO highlighted that even “prank” threats cause massive disruption as they have to deploy to EOD-K9 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams for every report.
“These threats not only endanger lives but also undermine the peace and security of our city,” it added.
The warning comes as the police coordinate with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) XI to track digital footprints left by individuals using “dump accounts” or social media to incite panic.
Authorities reminded citizens that “words and actions have consequences,” and the anonymity of the internet does not grant immunity from prosecution.
STUDENTS at Cabantian National High School were evacuated early Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, following a bomb threat sent via social media.
The threat was reported to the police at approximately 6:29 a.m. after a 12-year-old Grade 7 student received a message on Facebook Messenger from an account using the profile name “Dumpni Jo.”
The message, written in a mix of English and Bisaya, warned: “Good morning Cabantian National High School. This is not a prank. Listen to my every word, because if you don’t, it’s your fault to die that day… The clock is ticking.” (If you don’t, the deaths that day will be your fault).
Upon receiving the report, authorities immediately coordinated with school officials to evacuate students to the Barangay Cabantian gymnasium as a safety precaution.
The Davao City EOD-K9 Unit, led by PSMS Arsil Indagacan, arrived shortly after to conduct a thorough sweep and “paneling” of the campus.
By mid-morning, experts declared the area safe, reporting negative findings for any explosive devices.
Initial investigations revealed that the student who received the message had shared it with a classmate, who initially dismissed it as a scam and deleted the message from the recipient’s phone.
However, the students eventually alerted their teachers, triggering the emergency response.
Local police confirmed that the mobile phone used to receive the message will be turned over to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit XI for digital forensic examination.
Appropriate charges will be filed against any person found violating the law, specifically those involving bomb jokes or threats.”
Under Presidential Decree No. 1727, the dissemination of false information concerning bombs carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and heavy fines.
Photo courtesy of DCPO
