The Quezon Police District (QCPD) on Friday announced that it has arrested the prankster behind the bomb threat that disrupted classes at Ponciano Bernardo High School in Quezon City.
In a press conference, QCPD chief Pbgen Nicolas Torres identified the suspect as Elfrank Emil Anthony Kadusale, 22 years old, a grade 8 Alternative Learning Student (ALS) in Ponciano Bernardo High School.
On Thursday, Kadusale disguised himself as a certain Bob Key Ser Panginaban and posted a Facebook post saying he planted an explosive inside the school.
"Sama-sama 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," he earlier wrote.
Marlon Trinidad, a teacher at Pociano Bernando High School, reported the Facebook post to the school principal.
The QCPD immediately conducted surveillance in the school but saw no signs of bombs within the place.
In the same press conference, Torres warned the public that bomb jokes or bomb scares are serious offenses that can be punishable by law.
"Gusto natin ipahayag sa ating kababayan na very serious ang offense dahil kapag kayo ay nag-bomb threat, especially sa eskwelahan, ang terror na dinadala niyan sa mga estudyante at sa ating mga teacher lalong lalo na ang mga parents, ay malaki. We take this very seriously," he underlined.
The QCPD chief said they have ways to track pranksters on social media.
"Hindi basta-basta nagbibigay nag di-disclose ang mga social media platforms pero tandaan ninyo na sa oras na kayo ay nag-cross ng terrorism gaya ng bomb joke... Maniwala kayo, take it from me now, ibibigay nila sa amin kung paano niyo ginawa ang account niyo para gumawa ng bomb jokes," he said.
Torres said they are also preparing the arrest warrants for the suspects behind the bomb scare in three other schools in Quezon City.
