Education Secretary Sonny Angara commended the Philippine National Police for their swift arrest of individuals behind online school threat hoaxes, making clear that disruptive online pranks carry legal and administrative penalties under a whole-of-society effort for campus safety.
Secretary Angara emphasized the necessity of a unified approach involving law enforcement, local government units (LGUs), parents, schools, and communities to maintain safe, orderly, and uninterrupted learning environments.
“Salamat sa PNP at sa ating security sector sa mabilis na pag-aksyon para matukoy at mapanagot ang mga nagpapakalat ng online threat sa ating mga paaralan. Alinsunod na rin ito sa direktiba ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na siguruhing ligtas at protektado ang ating mga mag-aaral at guro sa bawat sulok ng bansa,” Angara said.
“Hindi natin dapat payagan na maabala ang pag-aaral ng ating mga kabataan dahil sa mga maling biro o pananakot. Kailangan natin ang tulong ng bawat magulang, guro, at buong pamayanan upang gabayan at protektahan ang ating mga mag-aaral.”
Recent police operations have led to criminal criminal proceedings across several provinces.
In Magalang, Pampanga, police brought seven 15-year-old learners before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for inquest proceedings over a social media post threatening to harm learners of Tinajero National High School Annex.
Joint police operations led to the arrest of an 18-year old suspect in Jaen, Nueva Ecija for circulating online bomb threats against multiple public and private schools in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.
Police authorities also arrested another 18-year-old learner who admitted to posting a hoax threat aimed at suspending classes at San Felipe Integrated School in Nueva Ecija.
In Tanza, Cavite, law enforcement operatives implemented a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data against a woman in Barangay Paradahan I following an online threat aimed at a local school. Officers seized 16 digital devices for examination in connection with violations of Article 282 (Grave Threats) of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Beyond criminal liabilities under Presidential Decree No. 1727 or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law and Republic Act No. 10175, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated that its initiatives to address school-related concerns are heavily focused on prevention.
Under DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, or the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE), bomb threats and bomb jokes are classified as third-level offenses due to the grave risk they pose to safety and learning continuity. A first infraction results in non-readmission and referral to appropriate government interventions, while a second infraction carries the penalty of exclusion, referral to the proper authorities, and necessary interventions.
Spreading false reports or fake news that create confusion is classified as a first-level offense, subject to written reprimand, official parent conferences or administrative measures.
DepEd is also strengthening its Active Human-induced Threats protocol to ensure school readiness and effective response during emergency incidents.
The Department urges parents, educators, and the public to promote responsible digital citizenship among the youth and to immediately report any suspicious online activity or security threats to school authorities or emergency services through Hotline 911.
