Bacolod: The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) called out on Tuesday those behind the report of a hoax residential fire in this highly urbanized city on Monday night. In a public advisory, the Bacolod City Fire Station said that aside from the hoax fire call, there was also an incident involving fraudulent food app orders indicating a delivery address in the same area at Villa Angela Subdivision, Barangay Villamonte, on the same evening.

According to Philippines News Agency, City Fire Marshal Supt. Jenny Masip stated that these irresponsible acts resulted in the unnecessary mobilization of emergency responders and caused inconvenience and financial losses to several food delivery riders. She emphasized that such pranks waste valuable emergency resources and could endanger lives by diverting responders from legitimate emergencies.

Masip reminded the public that making false emergency reports and engaging in fraudulent activities may result in criminal and civil liabilities under applicable laws. She added that individuals who intentionally place fraudulent food delivery orders may also face possible civil and criminal liabilities, involving fraud, deceit, or causing financial damage to affected parties.

In a report, the Bacolod City Fire Station said they received information relayed by the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade regarding a residential fire in Villa Angela Subdivision at around 8:40 p.m. Adhering to emergency response protocols, firefighters were immediately dispatched to verify the report.

A thorough assessment by the responding team confirmed that no fire incident had occurred and that the report was a false alarm. The BFP personnel also learned that the same address had been used to place several fraudulent food orders, which victimized five Foodpanda riders and a GrabFood rider.

The fire call and food orders used the mobile phone number 0907-438-7599, which may be subject to further investigation by concerned authorities, the Bacolod City Fire Station said.