RACU-6 probes hoax bomb threats in Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) 6 has launched an investigation into the series of hoax bomb threats sent to schools and a shopping mall in Iloilo City and province.

Lt. Col. Richard Habawel, RACU-6 regional director, said they have already gathered and are continuing to gather the digital footprints of individuals who sent the threats through the social media platform Facebook.

He declined to give a timeline on when they might identify the perpetrators, but confirmed that RACU-6’s cyber expertise is being utilized as the threats were made online.

In the span of three days, five bomb threats were reported — four in Iloilo City and one in Iloilo province.

The most recent incident was a threat directed at the SM Department Store along Delgado-Valeria Streets in Barangay Danao, City Proper, Iloilo City.

The information was relayed through radio station Aksyon Radyo on the afternoon of Nov. 14.

Personnel from the Iloilo City Police Station 1 responded and coordinated with the mall’s security team.

However, one of the mall’s security officers stated that they had not received any direct message about the threat. He added that the mall had heightened its bomb threat protocols and was regularly conducting “white level inspections” with their K9 unit.

The mall management declined to proceed with a full paneling inspection, following instructions from their head office.

Earlier, around 11 p.m. on Nov. 13, a bomb threat was received by the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) main campus at Burgos Street, La Paz, Iloilo City.

The Iloilo City Police Office’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Canine Unit inspected the campus but found no explosive device.

Earlier that same day, ISAT-U also received another bomb threat, which turned out to be a hoax.

On the morning of Nov. 12, the University of San Agustin (USA) – Basic Education Department at Barangay Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City was also targeted with a bomb threat.

Authorities confirmed that no bomb was found.

The threat was sent via Facebook Messenger to one of the school publication’s social media pages.

The sender, using the account name “Sarah Bautista,” 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.”

At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, the West Visayas State University (WVSU) – Janiuay Campus in Barangay Locsin, Janiuay, Iloilo also received a bomb threat.

A Facebook user under the name “Loo Lily” messaged the WVSU Janiuay official page, claiming to have placed one bomb near the Registrar’s Office and two more at the grandstand.

Responding to the alert, personnel from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU) conducted a paneling of the area.

At 9:20 p.m., PECU personnel declared the campus clear of any explosive device.

Police authorities have urged the public to refrain from making prank threats, warning that such acts are criminal offenses under Philippine law and punishable by imprisonment and fines.