No reported hoax bomb threats in Iloilo City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) on Tuesday said it has not received any reports of government agencies or even private offices that got hoax bomb threats.

Colonel Joeresty Coronica, Iloilo City police chief, said their monitoring suggested that the hoax bomb threats did not reach the city.

Several government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepED) Region 6, Commission on Population and Development (CPD) 6, and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and several others claimed that they have not received threatening emails, similar to that in other government offices in Metro Manila and Luzon.

“We take reports, such as bomb threats, seriously. That’s why, we appeal to the public not to make a joke out of it,” Coronica said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has already ordered the  National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a thorough investigation into the bomb threats received through email by several government agencies and local government units (LGUs).

Remulla also warned those behind the act that the government would go after them to the full extent of the law.

The hoax bomb threats that circulated on social media on Monday have forced the suspension of classes in some schools and work in government offices.

The threat allegedly stemmed from an email sent by a certain Takahiro Karasawa, who claimed to be a Japanese lawyer and a bomb expert.

The sender allegedly threatened to detonate bombs at around 3:34 p.m. on Feb. 12.

As it turned out, the threat remained a prank.

It was gathered that a similar issue has also been reported last year in Seoul, South Korea.