Hoax bomb threat hits third Iloilo City school

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Another day, another hoax bomb threat.

The Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Iloilo City campus in Barangay Burgos, La Paz, became the third school in the city to receive a bomb threat within 24 hours.

The threat was sent to the official Facebook page of the ISAT-U Student Republic.

Heinz Gumaquil, ISAT-U public information officer, said the message was received between 6 and 7 a.m. on November 13.

The Facebook page administrator reportedly took a screenshot of the message and forwarded it to Dr. Russ Allen Napud, ISAT-U vice president for administration and finance, and Jimma Lucia Cabillos Acanto, administrative aide III of the SSEDMMO.

Reports said the sender used the Facebook handle “Shubeyaa Lily.”

The message read: “I have planted 5 timed bombs in the campus — 3 at the New Site and 2 at the Old Site. Good luck.”

Upon receiving the report, the university immediately activated its standard operating procedures by evacuating students and clearing the premises.

Police assistance was requested at 8:03 a.m.

Personnel from the Philippine Army’s Forward Area Support Unit (FASU) and the Explosives Ordnance Division initially responded.

They were later joined by members of the Iloilo City Police Office’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit.

A paneling operation was conducted, and by 11:15 a.m., the school premises were declared cleared.

Gumaquil said student safety remained the top priority, and the administration advised the shift to online classes in the afternoon following the suspension of morning classes.

“For now, we couldn’t say what’s the motive behind the bomb threat,” he said, noting that the school had already finished exams and the next one is not scheduled until next month.

Gumaquil said the school intends to file charges against the person behind the threat.

On November 15, 2024, the same ISAT-U campus suspended in-person classes after receiving a similar threat.

At the time, a number of students and faculty had already reported for class when the bomb threat was received around 7:45 a.m.

The informant claimed to have received a screenshot from a group chat referencing the threat.

A female student allegedly posted a comment about the matter on a post from the university’s public information office Facebook page.

Another bomb threat was received the morning of November 12 by the University of San Agustin (USA) Basic Education Department in Barangay Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City.

The message was sent via Messenger to one of the school’s official publication Facebook pages.

Using the name “Sarah Bautista,” the sender wrote: “I have planted 6 timed bombs in the campus, 2 at the kinder building and 4 at the main building. Some are set to turn off this morning. This is due to the unjust treatment of some teachers to students. Goodluck.”

A Grade 10 member of The Junior Augustinian read the message after it was sent at 7:27 a.m. on Wednesday.

She immediately took a screenshot and shared it in a group chat.

Members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit conducted paneling and found no bombs on campus.

By 10:26 a.m., the school was declared clear of any explosive devices or components.

At 6:30 p.m. that same day, the West Visayas State University (WVSU) Janiuay Campus in Barangay Locsin, Janiuay, Iloilo, also received a bomb threat.

A person using the name “Loo Lily” messaged the WVSU Janiuay Facebook page claiming to have planted one bomb near the Registrar Building and two more at the grandstand.

Responding to the scene, members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU) conducted a paneling operation.

By 9:20 p.m., the area was declared clear of any explosive device.