Panama to Impose Severe Penalties for False 911 Calls

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, in his recent address to the nation, has called on deputies to legislate on actions that endanger the lives of all Panamanians. The document states that individuals who, themselves or through third parties, report a false emergency to the authorities will be penalized with a fine of 100 to 300 days. Likewise, it rules that whoever hinders the work of the Honorable Fire Corps, SUME, the National Civil Protection System, and any other emergency institution, will be sanctioned with a prison sentence of 6 months to 1 year or its equivalent in days of fine. According to its proponent, the regulation aims to strengthen the criminal protection of public emergency services, ensuring a punitive response commensurate with the severity of the events, in strict respect of the principles of legality, proportionality, and due process. The regulation must be analyzed in the Government, Justice, and Constitutional Affairs Committee for subsequent approval in second and third debate. "I want us to pass a law that establishes exemplary sanctions for those who play with this tool and harm those who truly need it and are between life and death," he stated. Bill 303 adds to the Penal Code a chapter on crimes against public emergency services, with the purpose of punishing those who obstruct or hinder their work in a premeditated manner. False alerts to the Unique Pre-hospital Emergency Management System (SUME), popularly known as 911, could lead to sanctions after the approval of the preliminary draft of Law No. Mulino pointed out that to improve patient care nationwide, 24 new vehicles and defibrillator monitors have been acquired. In the last two years, the number of unproductive calls to this service has been on the rise; figures from the Ministry of Public Security show that in 2024, 95% of all notifications (3,151,318) were false, a situation that repeated in 2025 with 55%. The president emphasized that it is important for everyone to understand that the assistance of 911 is vital; therefore, its telephone center should not be used to "fool around" as has been happening. Additionally, a paramedic ambulance post was inaugurated in Dolega, Chiriquí province.