MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission is working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following the arrest of a suspect in a bomb threat targeting the NPC’s office in Pasay City.
In a statement yesterday, the NPC said it met with the NBI on Friday regarding the suspect, who was apprehended on May 17 through the assistance of the NBI, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and Philippine National Police.
The NPC received a bomb threat comment posted by the suspect on the NPC’s official Facebook account on May 12, which prompted the agency to immediately activate NPC’s emergency protocols and the evacuation of NPC personnel to a designated evacuation site and the suspension of office operations.
The suspect persisted in posting bomb threats, continuously messaging the NPC until May 15. This prompted the NPC to file a formal complaint with the NBI.
The NBI’s cybercrime division traced the suspect in Aklan, where he was apprehended.
“We believe in upholding accountability for actions that disrupt public safety and instill fear among individuals. Rest assured, the NPC remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the privacy rights of Filipinos. We reiterate that incidents such as these will not deter us from fulfilling our responsibilities,” NPC Commissioner John Henry Naga said.
The suspect underwent inquest proceedings before the Pasay prosecutor’s office on charges of grave threats and violating Presidential Decree 1727, which penalizes bomb threats, both in relation to the cybercrime prevention law.