CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Police apprehended an 18-year-old student for allegedly posting a bomb threat on Facebook against a school in Llanera, Nueva Ecija on Monday.
The Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) said personnel from the Llanera Police Station acted immediately after receiving information about a social media post threatening the San Felipe Integrated School. The post caused alarm among students, parents, and residents.
The suspect from Barangay San Felipe, Llanera admitted that the post was a joke in an investigation.
Police, together with the Nueva Ecija Provincial Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU), conducted a security sweep of the school.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) ensured the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel.
The suspect was taken into custody and charged with violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727 (Malicious Dissemination of False Information) in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Nueva Ecija police chief Police Col. Ritchie R. Claravall reminded the public that bomb threats, in person or online, are treated as serious offenses. He appealed to the public, particularly young people, to use social media responsibly.
Claravall added that false bomb threats can disrupt public safety and have serious legal consequences.