Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The existing nationwide emergency hotline is “911” which corresponds to and meets the 
international standards on emergency numbers. This is supported by Memorandum Order No. 07-
07-206 issued by the National Telecommunications Commission and Executive Order No. 56 that
is entitled “Institutionalizing the Emergency 911 Hotline as the Nationwide Emergency Answering
Point, Replacing Patrol 117, and for other purposes.” The purpose of the said law is to strengthen
operations for responding to public emergencies or disasters via a direct hotline. The government
is duty bound to serve and protect the people1 and it is expected that this crisis hotline is used
appropriately by the public.
This bill supports the inherent nature of having an accessible nationwide hotline by providing 
penalties to persons who will intentionally make mischievous and malicious calls that will spoil the 
government resources and make ridicule them for their benefit/reasons. An emergency hotline 
should be able always accessible, free from interruption, and seamlessly receive emergency calls 
to save lives for those needing it at a crucial moment. 
To uphold the reliability and integrity of this public service, this legislation is proposed to forbid 
and penalize prank callers for irresponsibly alarming the emergency hotline. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
1 Section 4, Article II, 1987 Philippine Constitution 
August 22, 2022
8:01 am
3851


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
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.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the 
general welfare of the people. Towards this end, the State aims to prohibit malicious and improper 
use of telecommunication devices. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) Prank call refers to a mischievous or malicious telephone call made to trick or fool someone
to annoy, abuse, threaten, harass, or solicit any comment, request, suggestion, or sound
which is 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;
b) Emergency refers to a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring
immediate attention and action; and
c) Hotline refers to direct telecommunication set up for a specific purpose.
Sec. 4. Prohibition. – Emergency hotlines established to respond to emergencies shall, at all 
times, be free from receiving unnecessary calls. It shall be prohibited for any individual to make 
prank calls to any hotline at any time. 
Sec. 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 (P 10,000.00) for the second offense; and
c) Prision correccional and a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000.00) 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. 
3851


Sec. 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is subsequently declared 
unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. – All acts and decrees, executive orders, implementing rules and 
regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after its complete publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,