A 19-year-old student was arrested in Mambajao, Camiguin, after allegedly posting threatening messages on Facebook that caused alarm among students and personnel of a local school, police said.
The incident came to the attention of the Philippine National Police at around 8 p.m. on August 27, when the Mambajao Municipal Police Station received a report regarding a Facebook account that had allegedly published threatening posts.
According to police, some of the messages allegedly contained threats of violence, including warnings about hurting people and carrying out a shooting inside the school.
The posts reportedly triggered concern over the safety of students and school employees, prompting authorities to immediately verify the information and determine whether the threats were credible and identify the person behind the account.
Police investigators conducted verification and cyber investigation efforts to trace the account and establish the identity of its user.
Following the investigation, authorities said they were able to identify and positively confirm the person allegedly responsible for the posts.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. the same night, police arrested the 19-year-old suspect in Barangay Baylao, Mambajao.
Police said the suspect allegedly admitted that he was the person who made the Facebook posts. The admission was reportedly made voluntarily in the presence of his parent before his arrest.
The suspect was subsequently brought to the Mambajao Municipal Police Station for documentation, further investigation and appropriate disposition.
Online Threats Can Have Criminal Consequences
The incident underscores how threatening statements made through social media can quickly become a law-enforcement matter, particularly when they involve schools, firearms or threats of violence.
Authorities have warned that online threats should not automatically be dismissed as jokes, expressions of anger or attempts to frighten others. Depending on the circumstances and the specific content involved, threatening communications may expose a person to criminal liability under applicable Philippine laws.
The police also reminded the public to exercise caution and responsibility when using social media, particularly when posting statements that could cause fear or alarm.
The case remains subject to the appropriate legal process, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities likewise urged students, parents, teachers and members of the public who encounter potentially credible threats online to report them immediately to law enforcement rather than sharing or amplifying the posts.
Think before you post. An online threat can have real-world consequences—and may carry criminal liability.