Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday called for the modernization of the country’s decades-old bomb threat law to address the rise in hoax threats both offline and online.
Estrada filed Senate Bill 1076, or the “False Bomb Threat Prohibition Act,” which seeks to impose tougher penalties and expand Presidential Decree 1727 to include threats made through digital and online platforms.
“The safety and security of the public are non-negotiable. We need a stronger deterrent against individuals who endanger lives and waste government resources through hoax threats,” Estrada said.
Under current law, violators face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine not exceeding ₱40,000.
Estrada’s bill increases the penalty to six to twelve years in prison or a fine ranging from ₱1 million to ₱5 million, or both.
The measure also broadens the definition of false threats to include messages sent via social media, messaging apps, and other online platforms, while designating a lead agency for enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
“The rise of digital communication makes it easier for malicious individuals to spread panic with just a few clicks. It’s time our laws catch up,” the senator said.
The bill follows a wave of hoax bomb threats that disrupted classes and government offices in Bulacan, Bicol, Cebu, Caloocan, and Manila. Four schools in Davao City were also targeted within 48 hours, prompting mass evacuations.
Authorities have charged a 21-year-old woman in Pampanga for sending online bomb threats to schools. Earlier this year, operations at the Office of the Vice President were suspended due to a similar incident.
Philippine National Police is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and telecommunications firms to trace and block accounts used for spreading hoaxes.
