Bomb threats disrupt more than 15 schools in Iloilo, Antique

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan, Jennifer P. Rendon, and Mariela Angella Oladive

Classes were suspended in about 20 schools across Iloilo City, Iloilo province and Antique on Tuesday, Nov. 18, following another wave of hoax bomb threats that authorities say is part of a growing series of security incidents disrupting education in the region.

In Iloilo City, the affected schools included Central Philippine University, Colegio de San Jose, University of San Agustin–Main Campus, Iloilo Doctors’ College, Iloilo City National High School, Iloilo National High School, Jalandoni Memorial National High School and Ramon Avanceña National High School.

In Iloilo province, Northern Iloilo State University in Estancia suspended in-person classes across all campuses, while Janiuay National Comprehensive High School and Carvasana National High School in Calinog also received threats.

In Antique, Pangpang National High School in Sibalom, Saint Anthony’s College in San Jose and Antique Vocational School in Bugasong were likewise affected.

These incidents followed 10 bomb threats reported on Monday, Nov. 17, including eight schools in Iloilo City and one each in Guimbal and Pavia, bringing the total number of hoax threats to more than 30, according to police reports.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. condemned the threats and announced plans to meet with the provincial peace and order council to coordinate intensified investigations.

“We will ask for a meeting with the local council to step up and intensify the investigations on the ongoing bomb threats. I know they are doing their best, but we will have to engage our PNP for more intensified action,” he said Monday during the 2025 Provincial Barangay Service Point Officers Congress.

Defensor also issued a warning to the perpetrator.

“That is illegal. If you are caught, you will face charges. We will ask our provincial director to use technology to identify where this originated. Some people think that because it passed through the internet or cellphone, they cannot be traced — but if we pursue it, use technology, and give it time, we will know who you are,” he said.

His brother, 3rd District Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor, issued the same warning.

“Be careful, because we will have you arrested. This is part of the destabilization in the towns of Iloilo. This is not acceptable, and this should not be done,” he said.

Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin raised the matter in the House of Representatives, calling on law enforcement agencies to act against “cruel, destructive people.”

“The pattern is clear. There is someone who works to scare, plant fear among the people, start chaos, and wreck the normal course of education and living in Iloilo,” she said.

“In the many problems of the world now — the impact of climate change and the spread of false information that seeks to destroy not only our country but the whole world — this is another way of wrecking and chasing after the good futures of our fellow Filipinos,” she added.

During an interpellation by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, Garin raised the possibility of broader destabilization efforts behind the threats.

“Is this related to people trying to destabilize our country? Is this related to people trying to sow fear and distrust in our government? In this fight, it is the people who are losing,” she said.

Authorities pursue leads, call in cybercrime experts

Despite a PHP 100,000 reward offered by the Iloilo City government, the threats have persisted, with Police Regional Office 6 confirming 15 hoax bomb threats received across the region on Tuesday alone.

Lt. Col. Richard Adonis Habawel, chief of the PNP Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6, said their office is working closely with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and the Cybercrime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation to trace the origin of the threats.

“We are looking forward to solving these cases because of the damage they have caused,” Habawel said.

He said RACU-6 is providing technical assistance through digital forensics, but local police stations are leading the investigations.

“We are capable. We have the procedures. We have the tools to do this,” he said. “We couldn’t rule out any motive until we identify the suspects.”

Habawel also acknowledged the possibility that a single person or group could be behind the coordinated hoaxes.

Timeline of threats continues to grow

The latest batch of threats added to a growing timeline of similar incidents over the past week.

On Nov. 12, a threat was sent to the University of San Agustin–Basic Education Department in Barangay Sambag, Iloilo City.

On Nov. 13, West Visayas State University–Janiuay Campus received a threat at 6:30 p.m., followed hours later by a threat to Iloilo Science and Technology University–Main Campus in La Paz.

The threats extended beyond educational institutions, with SM Department Store on Delgado–Valeria Streets in Barangay Danao also targeted that week.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, Colegio de San Jose in Barangay Our Lady of Fatima, Jaro, received a threat.

By early morning on Nov. 17, threats were sent to Iloilo National High School and West Visayas State University–Main Campus via the same Facebook account, along with ISAT-U–Main Campus and Hua Siong College of Iloilo.

Threats received the same day also forced St. Therese–MTC Colleges’ La Fiesta and Magdalo sites, Central Philippine University, WVSU–Calinog Campus, Guimbal National High School and the Iloilo Merchant Marine School in Pavia to suspend in-person classes.

Authorities continue to investigate the coordinated attacks, which have disrupted learning across multiple provinces and heightened calls for improved cyber monitoring and stronger security protocols in educational institutions.