By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Manila Police District (MPD) spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines on Tuesday warned those behind the recent spate of bomb threats in universities that the long arm of the law will catch them.
“We are not taking this lightly. We are not disregarding these threats because the safety of teachers and students is paramount,” Ines said during the monthly Balitaan sa Harbor View news forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association.
He appealed to students to help the police solve the crime faster by reporting anything they may know, assuring that the information they give and their identities will be confidential.
Ines reminded that bomb threats or bomb jokes is a criminal offense governed by Presidential Decree No. 1727, also known as the Anti-Bomb Joke law, which carries a penalty of five years imprisonment or a fine of PHP40,000 or both, at the court’s discretion.
He also assured the public that a thorough investigation is being conducted, as he warned the culprits that “there is no such thing as a perfect crime.”
Since Oct. 20, three universities in Manila have received bomb threats — University of the East, University of Santos Tomas and De La Salle University.
UE and UST learned of the bomb threats via notes left on top of toilet tanks, while La Salle received it through e-mail. (PNA)
