Unified 911 fraud calls near eradication

Prank and fraudulent calls to the national Unified 911 Hotline have plummeted from 60 percent in 2024 to just 0.17 percent this year following a major system modernization implemented last September, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced.

The turnaround was reported to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla during the 24th Emergency 911 Commission Conference. The upgraded system handled 872,586 of 884,809 calls between 8 and 24 September, achieving a 98.62 percent efficiency rate.

Of that total, only 1,495 were classified as prank calls.

The sharp decline is largely credited to the system’s modernization, which now includes geolocation tracking capability and an active caller directory that deprioritizes repeat prank callers and improves verification.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a corresponding 400 percent increase in legitimate 911 calls requesting police assistance, rising from 4,634 to 19,761, all of which received a proper response. The PNP also noted a significant reduction in prank calls nationwide.

Remulla has repeatedly stressed the need for responsible use of the hotline, warning that prank calls delay or block life-saving emergency responses.He underscored the need to link the National ID and SIM registration systems to further deter fraudulent calls.