San ildefonso: An 18-year-old suspect allegedly behind a series of online bomb threats targeting several public and private schools in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, was arrested on Tuesday night.
According to Philippines News Agency, a police report released on Wednesday morning said the suspect was apprehended at about 6:29 p.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Hilera, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, through the joint efforts of the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the Talavera MPS and Jaen MPS under the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office.
The operation stemmed from bomb threats posted online, which were discovered on July 20 and 21, causing concern among students, parents, school officials, and the community. Acting on the reports, investigators immediately launched a follow-up operation. Through close coordination, validation of the suspect's identity, and intelligence-driven police work, authorities were able to locate and arrest the suspect within hours.
The suspect was arrested for alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727 (Anti-Bomb Joke Law) and Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The suspect and the recovered evidence were brought to the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station for documentation and further investigation. The seized mobile phone will undergo technical and forensic examination by the Provincial Anti-Cybercrime Unit as part of the ongoing case buildup.
Police Regional Office-3 chief Brig. Gen. Jess B. Mendez commended the operating personnel for their swift response, emphasizing that bomb threats are never harmless and will always be treated with utmost seriousness. "Hindi biro ang bomb threat. Isang post lang online puwedeng magdulot ng takot, pagkaantala ng klase, at malaking deployment ng police at emergency responders. Kaya sa PRO-3, we treat every bomb threat as real hanggang mapatunayan na hindi ito totoo. Sa mga nag-iisip na gawin ito bilang prank o para mag-viral, tandaan ninyo-may kaakibat itong pananagutang kriminal (A bomb threat is no joke. Just one online post can cause fear, class disruptions and deployment of police and emergency responders. That is why in PRO-3, we treat every bomb threat as real until proven otherwise. To those thinking of doing this as a prank or to go viral, remember it comes with criminal liability)," Mendez said.
The Police Regional Office-3 likewise called on parents, schools, and the public to promote the responsible use of social media and immediately report online threats or suspicious activities to the nearest police station, reaffirming its commitment to keeping schools and communities safe through proactive law enforcement and strong community partnership.
