The country's top cop warned the public not to make prank calls to hotline 911 after the emergency hotline received hundreds of such calls during its launch on Monday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said of the 2,475 calls recorded from 12:00-7:00 a.m., at least 1,356 were prank calls, 304 of which have already been validated.

"The Chief PNP is warning the 304 prank callers and the would-be callers. The 911 system is currently tracking the prank callers and we will make sure that you will be unmasked and arrested," dela Rosa said in a press conference Monday.

The police chief also warned would-be pranksters.

"Refrain prank calls and test calls. You clog up the lines and prevent people with real emergencies to reach us," said dela Rosa.

Presidential Decree No. 1727, s. 1980 prohibits the malicious spread of information made by "any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication."

If convicted, the prankster will be "punished with imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not more than forty thousand pesos (?40,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein defined and penalized."

VARIOUS EMERGENCIES

Dela Rosa said he has ordered police officials to swiftly act on calls to 911.

"All Chiefs of Police to be alert and respond to the calls routed to you by the 911 call centers and immediately provide police assistance to our people when needed," said dela Rosa.

Officials said at least 75 were "legitimate handled calls" while around 1,119 were dropped calls.

Various calls were responded to by forces from PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Department of Health.

Some of the calls sought assistance for health emergencies, accidents, harassment, arrest of trouble makers, and riots.

-- With reports from Maan Macapagal, Henry Atuelan