2003 O - 126 - PROVIDING SANCTIONS FOR PRANK CALLS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ANTI-PRANK CALLS ORDINANCE OF 2003

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON OCTOBER 23, 2003, AT THE CITY HALL

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - - - - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

Hon. Gregorio M. Elane - - - - - - - - - - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Rolen C. Paulino - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Angelina B. Andrada - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Gregorio A. Manglicmot - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Edwin J. Piano - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Rexy Gregorio-Cruz - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Noel Y. Atienza - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Bella P. Asuncion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "
Hon. Napoleon F. Capistrano - - - - - - - - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay

Hon. Robine Rose C. Buenafe - - - - - - - - - - SK Federation President

In the interest of public service and on motion of Councilor Anselmo A. Aquino, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to enact the following Ordinance:

ORINANCE NO. 126 (Series of 2003)

AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING SANCTIONS FOR PRANK CALLS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ANTI-PRANK CALLS ORDINANCE OF 2003

BE IT ORDAINED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT:

SECTION 1. Title. - This shall be known as the ANTI-PRANK CALLS ORDINANCE OF 2003.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the City Government ofOlongapo, to accelerate the use of Emergency Hotline Numbers that provide quick response to emergency situations, by providing unhampered accessibility to these emergency numbers.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Ordinance:

a. EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS· - shall refer to, but not limited to the following: Patrol 117; PNP Rotlines, 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 situations 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 or property, and reporting of the commission ofa 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 involve a report of an emergency situation or a 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 telecommunications equipment; and

e. PERSON - shall refer to any individual who makes a call to any number designated as emergency hotline number.

SECTION 4. 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 of 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 messages to emergency numbers; and

e. Callingltexting said emergency numbers to mock, ridicule, insult or otherwise hurt invectives at the phone operator, or otherwise, utter derogatory remarks against any individual other than said operator

SECTION 5. Penalties - Upon conviction the offender shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment, for a period not exceeding six (6) months or a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP2,500.00) or both at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the provisions thereof not affected by such declaration shaH remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Ordinance shall take effect upon its approval.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, October 23, 2003