Yvonne R. Pangelinan
THREATS to schools, whether they are prank calls or otherwise, are taken seriously, said Yvonne R. Pangelinan, senior director for support services of the Public School System.
“It has happened before, threats and prank calls, where we used a lot of resources not just for PSS — staff and teachers’ teaching hours were interrupted during those incidents — but also our partner agency’s resources,” Pangelinan added, referring to the Department of Public Safety.
“It really has been an issue where we cannot get on the right [footing] with learning because of these [prank] calls,” she said.
Pangelinan reminded the community and students “that prank calls are a serious matter.” She added: “We will take every single threat, whether it’s a prank call or not, seriously, and our partner agencies take it seriously, and there are consequences to that.”
She said among the consequences include disciplinary action at the school site. Making threats can be also a federal offense, Pangelinan pointed out.
“We don’t want our students to be put in that position where they are facing the justice system. It’s a serious matter. The students need to think before they … make prank calls,” she added.
In November, the Department of Public Safety took into custody a 13-year-old student who was brought to police headquarters for questioning after he threatened to bomb Francisco M. Sablan Middle School.
On Sept. 17, 2023, DPS charged two male juveniles under 16 with “making a terroristic threat and conspiracy” after they made violent threats against Fransisco M. Sablan Middle School.
In January 2024, Chacha Ocean View Middle School in Kagman implemented lockdown measures after an unauthorized person entered the campus. One adult was charged for causing a disturbance.
