Iloilo City police seek patience as probe into bomb hoaxes continues

By Jennifer P. Rendon

After scores of hoax bomb threats, one question continues to linger: Who is behind the series of nuisance messages disrupting schools across Iloilo City?

Authorities said they still have no definitive answer, but the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) urged the public to remain patient as investigators work to identify the source of the threats.

“Let us be patient and stay calm. Don’t panic. What’s important is for schools to strengthen their security,” Iloilo City police chief Col. Kim Legada said in a press conference Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Legada said investigators have tapped technical experts to verify the digital signatures of social media users who sent the threats through Facebook Messenger.

He said identifying the culprit cannot be rushed.

Legada acknowledged that they are looking at the possibility that a student or students may be responsible.

He recalled a case last year at Iloilo Science and Technology University, where a student was charged for sending a hoax bomb threat.

He said police are exploring all angles.

“Indi ta ini madani-dali. This is new to us. This is not the conventional mode of threats. Before, bomb threats were sent via text messages, letters, and verbal communication, but now, because of the advent of information technology, it is done over social media,” he said.

Legada said police cannot set a timeline for resolving the cases.

He emphasized the importance of security measures being implemented in schools.

“If we’re confident of the security measures that you implement, why be bothered?” he said.

For now, he said it is too early to assume whether the threats were sent by one person or a group.

“Just because the messages seemed to have one pattern doesn’t mean that it came from one person,” he said.

Legada noted that Western Visayas remains under Terrorism Threat Level 1.

He said there have been no terror-related explosions in Iloilo City and no monitored threats linked to local terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, the Regional Explosive Canine Unit 6 said it has deployed nearly 95 percent of its personnel to respond to bomb threats in the city and the provinces of Iloilo and Antique.

From Nov. 12 to noon of Nov. 19, the ICPO received 26 bomb threats involving 15 schools and one commercial establishment.

Over the same period, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office received 18 bomb threats involving 17 schools.

Maj. Roi Rubin Urbina, RECU-6 team leader, said limited manpower affects response time.

“Lately, nagkasabay-sabay ang respond namon sa loob ng kalahating araw. We couldn’t deploy just one personnel. Dapat complete kasama na ang K9 team,” he said.

If personnel find a suspected device, X-ray technicians must also be deployed.

“That’s why we are asking for understanding if delayed ang response sa other schools kasi very limited ang manpower namin ngayon,” he said.

The Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division has been tasked to oversee the investigation being conducted by the ICPO, Iloilo Police Provincial Office, and Antique Police Provincial Office.

RIDMD chief Col. Ryan Devaras said the unit was assigned to monitor case developments and provide technical assistance.

He said they are working with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the National Telecommunications Commission.