Republic af the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metra Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7151

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PENALIZING PRANK CALLERS TO EMERGENCY HOTLINES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Emergency situations are serious, unexpected, and often dangerous
circumstances that require immediate attention and action. To improve the
prompt delivery of emergency services to the public, President Rodrigo
Duterte issued Executive Order No. 56 in 2018, institutionalizing the
Emergency 911 Hotline as the nationwide emergency hotline number which
serves as a call and dispatch center connecting people in need of assistance
to government emergency response resources such as the Philippine
National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and other medical workers
and rescue services.

With limited government resources, to call on the Emergency 911
Hotline with the intent to malign and mischievously abuse these services do
not only undermine emergency response efforts, but would also risk the
lives and safety of those who are truly in need at any given time.

This bill seeks to discourage mischievous calls and ensure proper
operation of emergency services by prohibiting and penalizing prank callers
to emergency hotlines.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly

sought.

‘RED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metra Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7151

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PENALIZING PRANK CALLERS TO EMERGENCY HOTLINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Prank
Callers Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State promote the general welfare of the people. Towards this end, the State
aims to prohibit malicious and improper use of telecommunication devices.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Emergency - refers to a serious, unexpected and often dangerous
situation requiring immediate attention and action;

(b) Hotline - refers to a direct telecommunication set up for a specific
purpose; and

(c) Prank call - refers to a mischievous or malicious phone call made to
trick or fool someone with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten,
harass, or solicit any comment, request, suggestion or sound which
are obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent, or a call intending to
make false requests or false alarm of an emergency, knowing the
report or information or alarm to be false.

SECTION 4. Prohibited Act. - Emergency hotlines established for the


purpose of responding to emergency situations shall, at all times, be free
from receiving unnecessary calls. It shall be prohibited for any individual to
make prank calls to any emergency hotline at any time.

SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person who violates this Act shall be
penalized with:

(a) Arresto menor and a fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) for the
first offense;

(b) Arresto mayor and a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) for the
second offense;

(c) Prison correccional and a fine of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00)
for the third and succeeding offenses;

Provided, That the foregoing penalties shall be imposed without prejudice to
other liabilities under the Revised Penal Code or any special law arising out
of the prohibited act herein.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. ~ Any portion or provision of this Act
that is declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other
portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still
subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,