By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City council condemned the prank call reporting a false residential fire, declaring such acts a serious threat to public safety.

Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the city council committee on health and sanitation, said the council has urged strict enforcement of applicable laws against the perpetrators.

On Tuesday, June 9, the Amity Fire Brigade received a prank call about a residential fire that turned out to be false, causing unnecessary deployment of emergency responders, vehicles and resources.

“False alarms and prank calls to emergency services, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, fire brigades and emergency hotlines, divert limited resources away from real emergencies, endanger lives, waste public funds, and create panic among residents,” she added.

Ang noted that Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1724 penalizes false alarms and bomb threats, and Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code punishes alarms and scandals, including malicious false reports that cause public disorder.

She said Republic Act No. 11313, the “Safe Spaces Act,” and local ordinances on public order also cover acts that disturb peace and safety in the community.

“The city council strongly condemns any act that compromises the safety and security of Bacolodnons and undermines the work of our emergency responders,” the councilor said.

They urged the Bacolod City Police Office, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection and Amity Fire Brigade, to immediately investigate the incident; identify the perpetrators through available means, including call tracing and closed-circuit television footage; and file appropriate criminal and administrative charges.

They also urged the authorities to launch a citywide information and education campaign reminding the public that prank calls and false alarms are illegal and punishable.

“The campaign shall emphasize that such acts endanger lives, waste public resources and delay response to real emergencies,” Ang said./MAP, WDJ