SCHOOLS around the country have been receiving bomb threats, disrupting classes and causing panic and stress in the aftermath of the Davao City bombing, the Palace said Wednesday.
“While the said bomb threats turned out to be a hoax, we reiterate our call for police visibility near the schools. We also remind our school officials to intensify security and be extra vigilant to ensure the safety of our teachers, students, and personnel,” Malacañang said in a statement.
“We urge the public to report information on terror threats to the police and to avoid spreading unverified information specially through social media,” Malacañang said.
National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday appealed to the public to stay calm as bomb threats spread.
“All bomb threats whether a hoax or not, should not be taken for granted and should be immediately reported to the police and let the EOD [explosives and ordnance division] experts conduct the clearing,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde also advised people to not touch anything if they see any suspicious object in the area, and let the explosives experts check the item.
“We also appeal to the public not to make bomb threats a joke not only because it is against the law but also because it creates unnecessary fear among our people,” Albayalde said.
Persons making bomb jokes can be charged with violating Presidential Decree 1727, which carries a maximum jail term of six years.
At least two bomb threats were received by police Tuesday, first at a high school in Quezon City and second, at the Makati City Hall. Both threats turned out negative.
Chief Insp. Noel Sublay, EOD head of Quezon City Police District, said the first bomb threat at Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science and Technology High School was received at 8:58 p.m. Monday, through Facebook Messenger while the second threat was received 5:50 a.m. Tuesday.
The threat at the Makati City Hall was made through a phone call.
Earlier, bomb threats were received by schools near Malacañang.
Five schools had to suspend classes due to these bomb hoaxes.
Airport officials on Wednesday warned the public against making bomb jokes, saying these are punishable by law.
On Tuesday, a 34-year-old air cargo employee at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was arrested for joking about carrying a bomb inside his car.
Charged with violation of the Presidential Decree 1727 (False Bomb Threat) before the Department of Justice was Marlon Soriano, an employee of Air Serve Cargo Express.
Soriano’s arrest was made after security measures were tightened following a bomb attack on a Davao City night market that left 15 people dead and about 70 wounded on Friday night.
Investigation showed that security personnel of the Cebu Pacific Cargo House in Naia Cargo Entrance Gate were conducting under chassis inspection around 2:45 p.m. when Soriano made a joke and told them there was a bomb.
Security personnel turned Soriano over to the Police-Aviation Security Group for investigation where he confessed his wrongdoing.
“We appeal to the people not to make fun or make jokes about these things. These are serious matters and making a bomb joke is punishable by law,” said Avsegroup director Mao Aplasca.
Under the law, anyone circulating hoax warning through email and text messages can be held criminally liable as it constitutes a willful dissemination of false information which is punishable by law.
The perpetrator of the hoax could also be charged with unlawful rumor mongering and even those who apologize for circulating the hoax can still be held liable.
In 2007, actor John Estrada was briefly held at the airport in General Santos City for joking that he was carrying a bomb in his bag.
Estrada was about to fly back to Manila via a Philippine Airlines flight when the incident happened. He was released and allowed to board the plane after his baggage was thoroughly inspected.
Police said Estrada apologized later and told them he had learned his lesson not to joke about bombs in airports.
In the House, Rep. Miro Quimbo of Marikina urged congressional leaders to work for stiffer penalties against making false bomb threats, in light of the recent hoaxes.
Under Quimbo’s bill, the penalty for making a false bomb threat would be six to 12 years and a fine of P1 million to P5 million. With Rio N. Araja, Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz