Palace: 'Bomb threat' pranksters will be penalized

After the false bomb threat at the Assumption College in Makati City, Malacañang said people giving fake bomb threats and pranksters will be dealt with severely. “We would like to remind the public that anybody who is caught giving false bomb threats or giving false information will be investigated by the Department of Justice," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday. She said the fake threats are not helping the country. Valte also noted that 98 percent of the 13,000 calls received by Hotline 117 were prank. “We would like to reiterate that this is a serious matter, this is not a laughing matter," she said. She added that those who receive information through text messages should verify the details first with authorities before forwarding the message to other people. “Any message like that should be verified with the authorities. Anybody who intentionally calls an institution and warns them of a bomb threat knowing fully well that there is none will be dealt with severely," Valte said. “(Justice) Secretary Leila de Lima assured that there will be very severe penalties for anybody who is caught giving false information about bomb threats," she said. The DOJ will determine the penalties that will be imposed on pranksters “who may think it is funny to send a fake bomb threat," Valte said. Earlier in the day, students of Assumption College were sent home due to a bomb threat. However, the threat turned out to be false. Authorities are on heightened alert after the bombing of a passenger bus in Makati City on January 25 when five people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured. – VVP, GMANews.TV