PRANK GONE WRONG. The Quezon City Police District arrests bomb threat suspect Elfrank Emil Anthony Kadusale on Friday (Jan. 27, 2023). The 22-year-old Kadusale sent the threat to Ponciano Bernardo High School via Facebook Messenger on Thursday (Jan. 26). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alfiler)
MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested the suspect behind the bomb threat that caused panic at the Ponciano Bernardo High School on Thursday.
In a press conference on Friday, QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced the arrest of Elfrank Emil Anthony Kadusale, 22, a resident of Barangay San Martin De Porres in Cubao where the school is located.
Torre said that Kadusale was behind the Facebook account that sent a bomb threat to the school on Thursday.
The threat was sent to the school’s Messenger account by a certain Bob Key Ser Panganiban at about 12:57 a.m. on Thursday.
"May tinanim ako na bomba sa elementary, samasama tayong mauubos. Isang studyante ako sa ALS (Alternative Learning System), samasama tayo sasabog nasa may bag na itim sa may CR banda ubos ang mga bata sa Ponciano kailangan magbigay kayo ng 100k pabuya para di ko na ito ituloy teacher ko ay si mam Nancy pakibigay nalang sa room (I planted a bomb in the elementary school. We will perish together. I am an ALS student. We will explode together. It is in the black bag near the comfort room. All the children in Ponciano will die. You need to give a PHP100,000 reward so that I will stop the bomb. My teacher is Ma’m Nancy. Please leave it in the room),” the message read.
The school principal reported the incident at about 9 a.m. of the same day and was relayed to District Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Canine Unit.
There were no signs of bombs or presence of an improvised explosive device after a thorough inspection.
The QC Police Station 7 Anti-Cyber Crime Team then located the suspect.
Bob Key Ser Panganiban was found to be a minor and eighth-grade ALS student of the school but denied he owns the account that sent the threat.
Upon further investigation, the minor pointed to the suspect, his classmate.
The minor was then asked to text the suspect and meet him at the Barangay San Martin de Porres office.
The suspect agreed and his mobile phone confirmed that he sent the bomb threat.
Charges of violation of Presidential Decree 1727 or the Anti-Bomb Threat Act in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act will be filed against the suspect.
CASE SOLVED. Quezon City Police District chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announces in a press conference on Friday (Jan. 27, 2023) the arrest of the suspect behind the bomb threat sent to Ponciano Bernardo High School via Facebook Messenger. On Thursday morning (Jan. 26), suspect Elfrank Emil Anthony Kadusale, 22, asked for PHP100,000 or he will set the bomb off. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald Alfiler)
“I warn the public to refrain from posting or making bomb jokes dahil ito ay my karampatang kaparusahan. Maging leksyon sana ito sa ating kababayan na iwasan ang ganitong bagay dahil wala naman itong maidudulot na maganda bagkus ay maging dahilan pa ito ng kaguluhan sa ating mamamayan (because this has appropriate punishment. Let this be a lesson to our countrymen to stop this thing because it won't bring any good and may cause trouble to the public),” he said.
Classes at New Era Elementary School, Emilio Jacinto Senior High School and San Francisco High School have also been disrupted in the past days due to bomb threats posted on the Facebook pages of the schools.
“We will go after those who spread false information or pranks about bomb threats. Our schools are supposed to be safe places for our students, and we will not take these pranks and threats lightly,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said during a consultation meeting with the QCPD.
She also called on the city council to craft an ordinance prescribing heavier penalties or fines on anyone who disseminates false information about bombs or explosives. (PNA)
