7 Facebook users face cyber warrants in bomb hoax

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Investigators have secured cyber warrants against seven Facebook users allegedly behind a series of hoax bomb threats that disrupted classes across Iloilo City last month.

The Iloilo City Police Office and the Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 applied for the warrants after identifying 20 Facebook accounts linked to the threats.

Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said investigators traced the Internet Protocol addresses and collected digital evidence from the users, leading to the issuance of cyber warrants.

“We have gathered the Internet Protocol or IP address and some digital information on these Facebook users. Thus, the application of cyber warrant,” she said.

Sangrines noted that while the PNP is eager to pursue charges, progress has slowed because some schools affected by the threats have not yet decided whether to file formal complaints.

“That’s our concern for now because some schools said they have yet to convene with the members of the board,” she said.

She added that the cooperation of these institutions would significantly strengthen the filing of criminal charges.

“That’s why our cybercrime and local police investigators are trying to convince and are appealing to our concerned schools to decide the soonest time possible,” she said.

Authorities are awaiting decisions from several institutions, including Hua Siong College of Iloilo, St. Therese–MTC Colleges, Central Philippine University, and Iloilo Doctors’ College.

Between Nov. 12 and 20 alone, the ICPO logged 34 bomb threats affecting 20 schools and one commercial establishment.

Col. Kim Legada, ICPO director, said on Monday, Dec. 1, that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has begun turning over preliminary data under the cyber warrants.

“As of now, we are already receiving evidence or data that was released by Meta. Currently there are seven accounts that have applied for a cyber warrant,” Legada said.

Cyber warrants — formally known as a Warrant to Disclose Computer Data — authorize law enforcement to compel service providers like Meta to share subscriber details, traffic logs, and other relevant data for investigation purposes.

“It’s a warrant for the disclosure of data that we can use as evidence in court against the account,” Legada explained.

He said all 20 Facebook accounts appear to be dummy or recently created accounts likely meant to hide the identities of the perpetrators.

Legada acknowledged the process of acquiring and analyzing the digital data will be slow and complex.

He also clarified that the PHP 100,000 reward for information leading to the suspects cannot yet be released, as the investigation is still ongoing and more individuals may be involved.

“We are expecting that there will be more suspects,” he said.

Initial findings suggest the threats were not orchestrated by a single person or group but rather carried out by multiple individuals.

Legada cited two cases — one at Iloilo National High School and another at Fort San Pedro National High School — where different suspects appeared to have independently targeted their respective schools.