Metro cops get caller ID telephones

To curb the wave of prank calls to police stations about bombs planted in various parts of the metropolis, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) will donate 100 caller identification devices to the Philippine National Police.

According to Chief Superintendent Victor Batac, director of the PNP directorate for Police Community Relations, the devices, each costing P1,800, will be distributed to various Metro police stations and police ordinance and explosives disposal squads.

Batac said that many police stations, especially those near large shopping malls, have been swamped with prank calls about supposed bombs following the explosions at the Glorietta shopping mall in Makati City and Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

"The caller identification devices, will help police determine whether called-in reports about planted bombs are prank calls or not. This will help our policemen save time, resources and energy by not responding to these fake situations," Batac said.

Batac added that criminal charges will be slapped on those caught making prank calls.

Meanwhile, Batac said the National Capital Region Police Office has began conducting bomb detection seminars for security personnel of shopping malls and similar establishments which may be targeted by bombers.

Batac said that first to conduct the seminars was the Western Police District under Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. for security guards of large establishments in Manila. --