Iloilo City Council OKs fines for fake bomb threats

ILOILO CITY — Individuals and groups who spread false bomb threats and other public safety hoaxes in Iloilo City may now face fines and other penalties as the city government cracks down on malicious online posts disrupting schools and public institutions.

The Iloilo City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 30, passed the Anti-False Public Safety Alerts Ordinance, which seeks to deter hoaxes that create widespread panic, disrupt academic schedules, and exhaust emergency resources.

“False alarms are not harmless pranks. They endanger students, alarm parents, waste government resources, and erode public trust,” said City Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, the ordinance’s author.

The ordinance defines a public safety alert as “any announcement, warning, advisory, or information disseminated to the public regarding emergencies, disasters, threats, hazards, or safety-related incidents, whether issued through official channels or public communication platforms.”

It prohibits creating, fabricating, and knowingly disseminating false public safety information through any medium or online platform.

Prohibited acts also include using dummy or anonymous accounts, impersonating government agencies or emergency responders, altering official safety advisories, and refusing to take down misleading posts after authorities notify them.

Penalties for individuals

The ordinance establishes a tiered penalty system for individual violators.

A first offense carries a PHP 2,000 fine, a written warning, and mandatory attendance at a public safety information seminar.

A second offense raises the fine to PHP 3,500 and requires at least 24 hours of community service.

Third and subsequent offenses draw a PHP 5,000 fine and referral for the filing of appropriate criminal charges under applicable national laws.

If the violator is a minor, fines and other monetary liabilities will attach directly to the parents or legal guardians, while community service will be carried out under parental supervision.

Businesses and online pages

Businesses, organizations, and online pages face even stricter measures.

A first offense incurs a PHP 5,000 fine, a written warning, and a mandatory coordination meeting with the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

A second offense carries the same PHP 5,000 fine and the temporary suspension of business permits or page operations for up to seven days.

A third offense results in the revocation of business permits and immediate referral for criminal prosecution.

Enforcement

The Iloilo City Police Office and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 lead cyber-forensic investigations, gather evidence, and track down anonymous profiles and digital conspirators.

Barangay officials and school administrators must immediately report suspected threats and preserve digital evidence, such as screenshots and timestamps, for law enforcement.

Violators may still face separate criminal, civil, or administrative liability under existing national laws and regulations.

Bomb jokes and false bomb threats are already punishable under Presidential Decree 1727, or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to PHP 40,000, or both.

String of hoaxes

The ordinance follows a string of hoax threats that have disrupted classes in Iloilo City since November 2025.

On Nov. 18, 2025, classes were suspended in about 20 schools across Iloilo City, Iloilo province, and Antique after a wave of hoax bomb threats.

The threats persisted despite a PHP 100,000 reward offered by the Iloilo City government.

In February, Iloilo Doctors’ College suspended face-to-face classes after two of its medicine students received threatening voice messages.

In June, authorities declared a bomb threat against Iloilo City Hall and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol a hoax after inspections found no explosives.

Earlier this week, the Iloilo City Police Office urged the public to stop sharing unverified posts after online threats involving two public high schools in the city circulated on social media.