CHILDREN'S OATH. Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano leads the "panatang makabata" (children's oath) among children in Taguig on Monday (Nov. 7, 2022), live-streamed via Facebook. While the Facebook live was ongoing, a certain dummy account posted a comment indicating a bomb threat, though no explosive was found. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The Department of Education on Tuesday warned the public against spreading fake news online, following a school bomb scare on Monday.
This came after a class suspension was announced at Signal Village National High School after an online threat was seen from a certain dummy or unverified account during the flag-raising ceremony live-streamed via Facebook.
In a statement, the DepEd-National Capital Region (NCR) said it has been working closely with the Taguig local government and the city police to hold the account user liable.
“We will continuously coordinate with local authorities to find out and penalize the perpetrator/s of this bomb threat. Nonetheless, we appeal to everyone to stop spreading unverified news and messages through social media that may cause undue fear and panic to the public,” it said.
The Taguig LGU earlier posted on Facebook a call to the public as it assured control over the situation.
“The city government encourages everyone to refrain from sharing false information which tends to cause panic and alarm in the community,” it said.
Contrary to the alarming information circulated online, no explosives were found within the school vicinity.
As of Tuesday, classes have resumed upon the advice of the DepEd-NCR.
On Monday, classes were immediately suspended in the Taguig school as the Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and bomb squad surveyed the area.
The Taguig City police, meanwhile, ensured intensified monitoring of all schools in Taguig, as it warned fake news spreaders.
Bomb scare is considered a violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Law and Presidential Decree 1727 or the Malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar means of destruction. (PNA)
