Regions
911 caller prosecuted for prank issues public apology

BAGUIO CITY: A prank caller who was sued for unjust vexation or violation of Presidential Decree 1727 issued a public apology for his inconsiderate and flippant use of the Baguio City Emergency 911 hotline. Anthony Balcita, a resident, posted his apology as part of a compromise agreement following a court-administered mediation process on the case filed against him by Dan Michael Ocampo and Juanito Areola, both employees of the Baguio City Command Center which is overseeing the hotline. In their joint affidavit complaint, Ocampo and Areola said they received over 100 'mischievous and irritating phone calls' from a telephone number traced to Balcita from Nov. 1 to Dec. 30, 2021, and from Feb. 2 to March 22, 2022. 'Despite the warning given through 'text blast' that prank calls are in violation of Executive Order 56, the number continued to make irritating, disturbing, and annoying numerous prank calls. Whenever we ask the reason for the call, the silence on the other line irritates us and disturbs our performance of our official duties,' the complainants said. The complaint was recommended for mediation until a compromise agreement was reached. Mayor Benjamin Magalong had expressed alarm on the continued proliferation of prank and drop calls made to 911. He warned that such calls are being traced, tagged, or chased for filing of appropriate charges.