Police chiefs told to beware of prank calls

CEBU, Philippines - Sr. Supt. Erson Digal, officer-in-charge of Cebu Provincial Police Office, has instructed all police station chiefs in the province to beware of prank calls from unidentified persons.

Digal revealed to reporters yesterday that a Tagalog-speaking prank caller, who identified himself only as “Atty. Principe” from the Department of Interior and Local Government has victimized two police station chiefs from the northern part of the province.

He said that last Thursday morning, the two police chiefs (names withheld) received a call from “Atty. Principe” informing them that DILG Secretary Ricardo Puno would be coming and that they have to be at the DILG regional office before the said prominent government official arrives.

The two police officials heeded and immediately went to the DILG-7 office but were dismayed when the personnel told them that Puno was not coming and there was no invitation for them since there was no celebration at all.

The police chiefs then called Digal who consequently made a verbal instruction to all police station chiefs in Cebu to ignore a certain “Atty. Principe” or any prank caller.

Digal reiterated to all police chiefs that all instructions from the national government will have to pass through the provincial headquarters first before they are relayed to the stations.

Digal said the said prank caller could be someone who has a personal grudge against the police, adding they could not figure out why the person is targeting police chiefs assigned in the province.

However, he said they will not be exerting efforts to locate the said prank caller as they do not have caller IDs.

Digal appealed to the prank caller, who was also allegedly good in conversation, to already stop what he is doing.

“Kay dili lang mo nagperwisyo, naghatag pa mo og dugang problema sa kapulisan,” Digal said. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB