PRO-NIR boosts cyber-monitoring amid bomb threats

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Police Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, director of the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), has ordered the activation of enhanced cyber-monitoring, digital forensics support and technical investigation protocols amid recent bomb threat incidents in Negros Occidental.

Two bomb threats were reported late Wednesday night at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) campus in Himamaylan City and Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City.

Ibay said the new measures will help police trace, validate and act swiftly on threats sent online, through mobile messaging or via anonymous digital platforms.

“Our priority is public safety, and we are working closely with our cybercrime investigators and information and communications technology specialists to identify the sources of these threats and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” he said in a statement.

Police Lt. Col. Anthony Grande, chief of the Himamaylan City Police Station, said a WVSU teacher sought police assistance after learning about a bomb threat sent to the school’s Facebook Messenger account around 9:45 p.m.

Grande said the message, which was received by the school publication’s social media page, claimed bombs were planted at the Education and Hospitality Management buildings because of alleged unfair treatment of faculty and staff toward students.

Police responded and requested the Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K9 Unit to conduct paneling and inspection of the area.

Authorities later cleared the campus of any threat.

Grande said that when police interviewed the owner of the social media account used to send the message, she initially claimed her account had been hacked and later said the case involved identity theft.

He said the student found that her profile photo had been screenshots by the sender and used as his own to issue the bomb threat.

Grande said they will further investigate the allegations, adding that the student has been cooperative, and police have coordinated with the Cybercrime Unit.

“We’ll investigate if indeed her account was cloned or not,” he added.

He said it was the school’s first such incident, but classes resumed the following day after authorities declared the campus safe.

Police Lt. Col. Roberto Indiape Jr., chief of the Kabankalan City Police Station, said CPSU personnel received a similar message, but after several hours of searching, police declared the campus clear and safe.

Indiape said they already have a lead and are looking into the possibility that the same individual is behind both threats.

These incidents follow a surge of threats in Iloilo, where the Iloilo City Police Office recorded 26 bomb threats involving 15 schools and one commercial establishment from Nov. 12 to 19, while the Iloilo Provincial Police Office logged 18 threats involving 17 schools in the same period.

PRO-NIR has intensified coordination with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit and information and communications technology experts to implement real-time monitoring and rapid tracing of digital threats.

Technical support will include analysis of digital footprints, metadata and communication patterns, along with coordinated intelligence sharing among law enforcement, local government units and ICT partners.

The regional office is also strengthening community awareness and encouraging timely reporting while preventing unnecessary alarm through its police stations.

“We call on the public to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative,” Ibay said.

Ibay warned that PRO-NIR will pursue individuals who spread fear through digital means.

“False bomb threats disrupt peace and can cause undue panic, but they are crimes with serious consequences,” he said.

The regional office assured the public that all reported threats are treated with utmost seriousness and that security protocols remain in place to protect communities across the region.