Residents in Mandaue City who make prank calls or submit false emergency reports could soon face penalties as local officials push for stricter measures to protect emergency response services. The proposed ordinance is designed to prevent unnecessary deployments that consume valuable time, manpower, and public resources intended for genuine emergencies.
The Mandaue City Council has approved on first reading the proposed "Mandaue City Anti-Prank Emergency Communications Ordinance," authored by Councilor Jennifer del Mar. The measure targets prank calls, malicious communications, and fabricated emergency reports made through the city's official hotlines, including those of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, the city command center, and other emergency response agencies.
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Proposed Penalties for False Emergency Reports
City officials said the ordinance was introduced after repeated incidents in which emergency personnel were dispatched to locations based on false information, only to discover that no emergency existed. These incidents have led to unnecessary use of government resources while potentially delaying assistance to people facing real emergencies.
Councilor Del Mar stressed that the city considers such incidents a serious concern.
“We take that very seriously diri sa (here in) Mandaue City,” she said.
Under the proposal, prank calls include communications that are false, fabricated, misleading, disruptive, or intended to interfere with emergency operations. The ordinance also covers abusive, threatening, or profane language directed at hotline operators and responders, as well as deliberately reporting nonexistent crimes, fires, accidents, or medical emergencies.
The measure further prohibits individuals from allowing others to use communication devices under their control to commit any of the prohibited acts.
Stronger Enforcement to Protect Emergency Services
If enacted, violators may face a P5,000 fine for every offense. Courts may also impose imprisonment ranging from 30 days to six months, or both, depending on the circumstances of the case.
In addition to the penalties, offenders will be required to attend a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management awareness seminar conducted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Cases involving minors will be handled under Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, together with the participation of their parents or guardians.
The Mandaue City Command Center will be responsible for documenting and verifying suspected violations before referring cases to the PNP and other law enforcement agencies. The city may also coordinate with telecommunications providers, subject to existing data privacy regulations, to help identify individuals responsible for false emergency reports.
Officials said the proposed ordinance seeks to ensure that emergency hotlines remain available for legitimate calls and that first responders are not diverted from people who genuinely need immediate assistance. For Mandaue residents and communities across the country, preventing prank emergency calls can help save lives by allowing police officers, firefighters, and medical responders to focus their resources on real emergencies where every second counts.
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