TEXT pranksters or even those forwarding or circulating unverified messages that cause bomb scares are warned of possible imprisonment or fines if found guilty of the offense based on Presidential Decree No. 1727.
Acting Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Iturralde issued the warning citing that prank messages warning of bomb threats have caused panic and confusion in numerous occasions in the city.
Panic struck Tumaga Elementary School and Curuan Elementary School and Curuan National High School on Wednesday after news spread that a bomb was planted in the three campuses.
The threat was declared a hoax after a thorough check conducted by the authorities.
Bomb scare also hit City Hall on Tuesday. No bomb was found when the Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) inspected the City Government offices.
Iturralde said circulating or forwarding such messages aggravate the situation when the authorities have hoisted the full red alert level in Zamboanga City and all other key cities in the country.
Iturralde said the suspect can face imprisonment and or pay fines for such offense once found guilty of maliciously disseminating false information.
Section 1 of P.D. 1727 stated that any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication, wilfully makes any threat or maliciously conveys, communicates, transmits, imparts, passes on, or otherwise disseminates false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics, shall upon conviction be punished with imprisonment of not more than five years, or a fine or not more than PhP40,000 or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein defined and penalized.
P.D. 1727 further stated in its Section 2 that the offender shall be arrested by means of an Arrest, Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) and shall not be entitled to bail pending trial by the military tribunals or military courts which shall have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving any violation of the provisions of the decree.
Iturralde appealed to the residents to report to authorities if they encounter such pranksters or people maliciously disseminating false information or any threats concerning bombs, improvised explosive devices or any similar device.
He suspects a pattern in the circulation of the false information, prompting him to issue the warning to those involved in such activities.
He advised the residents to remain calm but alert at all times and to heed Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar’s call for people to support and cooperate with anti-crime efforts. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)