AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING ANY PERSON FROM MAKING PRANK CALLS TO PATROL 117 OR ANY EMERGENCY NUMBERS.

Authored by: Kag. Emilio J. Castilla
Kag. Arius R. Ilano, Jr.

Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Bayan of Maribojoc, Bohol, in session duly assembled;

SECTION 1: Title:- This shall be known as the ANTI-PRANK CALLS ORDINANCE OF 2004

SECTION II: Declaration:- It is hereby declared the policy of the Municipal Government of Maribojoc to accelerate the use of Emergency Hotline Numbers that provide quick response to emergency situations, by providing inhampered accessibility to these emergency numbers.

SECTION III: Definition of Terms.- as used in this ordinance.
a. EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS – shall refer to, but not limited to the following: Patrol 117; PNP Hotlines; BFP Hotlines; National/Regional/Local Disaster Coordinating Council Hotlines, NBI Hotlines, Hospitals; and such other government and/or private hotlines whose entities provide quick response to emergency situation as hereinafter defined;
b. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS – shall refer to incidents of fire, flood, earthquake, conflagration, civil disturbances, war, acts against national security and similar public disorders, traffic accidents, incidents that require immediate medical assistance, and such other incidents that involve the loss of life, of property, and reporting of commission of a crime;
c. PRANK CALLS – shall refer to telephone calls or text messages made or sent by any person to the emergency numbers as herein defined, which do not involved a report of an emergency situation or request for emergency assistance, but are made solely for the purpose of making fun of such hotline numbers; or sow confusion among emergency responding units;
d. SERVICE PROVIDERS – shall refer to both landline mobile phone and hand-held radio operators, including all forms of telecommunication equipment; and
e. PERSON – shall refer to any individual who makes a call to any number designated as emergency hotline number;

SECTION IV: Prohibited Acts.- it shall be prohibited for any person to:
a. Make a prank call/text message through any Service Provider to any emergency number;
b. Make a call/text message to said emergency numbers for the purpose reporting a false emergency situation;
c. To call/text an emergency number and leave said line hanging for the purpose of paralyzing the emergency line so called;
d. Making lewd calls or sending lewd text message number; and
e. Calling/texting said emergency numbers to mock, ridicule, insult or otherwise hurl invectives at the phone operator, or otherwise, utter derogatory remarks against any individual other than said operator.

SECTION V: Penalties.- upon conviction the offender shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment, for a period not exceeding six (6) months or fine not exceeding TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (P 2,500.00) PESOS or both at the discretion of the court.

SECTION VI: Separability Clause.- any provision/s of this ordinance declared by court of competent authority to be invalid shall not affect those not declared and shall continue to valid and enforceable.

SECTION VII: Sponsorship and Deliberations.- This ordinance was presented for deliberation and upon motion of Hon. Emilio J. Castilla duly seonded by Hon. Arius R. Ilano, Jr.

SECTION VIII: Effectivity.- This ordinance shall take effect upon approval.

Approved: March 19, 2004

I HEREBY CERTIFY TO THE CORRECTNESS
OF THE ABOVE QUOTED ORDINANCE:

PHILIP R. MEDEQUISO
Municipal Vice Mayor

ATTESTED:

NOEL D. VELOSO
SB-Secretary

APPROVED:

ENGR. GABINO C. REDULLA
Municipal Mayor
Date signed: March 22, 2004