A 22-year-old student of the Ponciano Bernardo High School in Quezon City was arrested and tagged at the culprit behind the bomb hoax on Thursday.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) issued a statement announcing the arrest of Elfrank Emil Kadusale, an Alternative Learning System (ALS) student at the school.
To recall, Ponciano Bernardo High School’s official Facebook page received a message at around 12:57 a.m. on Thursday from an account named Bob Key Ser Panganiban, claiming that he had planted a bomb in the elementary building that “will wipe [them] out together.”
At the stroke of midnight on Thursday, Ponciano Bernardo High School’s Facebook page received a chilling message – Bob Key Ser Panganiban declared he had planted a bomb in the elementary building, threatening that the explosive “will wipe [them] out together.”
“Isang estudyante ako sa ALS, sama-sama tayo. Sasabog nasa may bag, nasa itim sa may [comfort room] banda. Ubos ang mga bata sa Ponciano. Kailangan magbigay kayo ng [P100,000] pabuya para ‘di ko na ituloy. Teacher ko ay si ma’am Nancy, pakibigay nalang sa room,” the message further read.
Once the premises were deemed safe, the police and the Quezon City Anti-Cybercrime Team were able to trace the source of the threat back to a Grade 8 ALS student, as the profile photo used in the sent message belonged to him.
“During the interview with the minor, he averred that the account used in sending the bomb threat is not his account and belongs to another,” it noted.
According to the QCPD, the student in the photo singled out his classmate, who he identified as Kadusale.
Kadusale was told to proceed to the Barangay Hall of San Martin de Porres in Cubao, where he had to submit his cell phone for examination.
Police said Kadusale “validated that it was his account and verified the same account was the one used in the bomb threat.”
Belmonte warns vs pranks, bomb threats
Mayor Joy Belmonte issued a stern warning to those who issue or disseminate false bomb threats following the recent disruption of classes in New Era Elementary School, Emilio Jacinto National High School, San Francisco High School and Ponciano Bernardo High School.
After a thorough inspection by the Quezon City Police District’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit, the schools were declared negative of any bombs or explosives.
“We will go after those who spread false information or pranks about bomb threats. Our schools are supposed to be a safe place for our students, and we will not take these pranks and threats lightly,” the mayor said during a consultation meeting with the Quezon City Police District.
QCPD for its part will work with the city government to arrest individuals spreading such information.
“Our QCPD Anti-Cybercrime Group is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and we will track down anyone behind these bomb scares that could cause disruption and danger to our communities,” QCPD Director PBGen. Nicolas Torre III said.
The mayor also called on the City Council to craft an ordinance prescribing heavier penalties or fines to anyone who disseminates false information about bombs or explosives.
Bomb scares or pranks are considered a violation under Presidential Decree No. 1727 entitled, “Declaring As Unlawful the Malicious Dissemination of False information or the Willful Making of any Threat Concerning Bombs, Explosives or Any Similar Device or Means of Destruction and Imposing Penalties Therefor.”
