Sixteen officers stand between W. Visayas and online threats

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — The Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 is handling a growing number of cybercrime-related cases in Western Visayas despite operating with only 16 personnel.

Police Col. Richard Adonis Habawel, RACU-6 regional director, said the unit remains capable of responding to cases despite its limited manpower.

“We could manage and ready to respond,” Habawel said.

RACU-6 is the Western Visayas field unit of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, which investigates offenses committed through computer systems and the internet.

Habawel said all 16 personnel, including himself, have technical expertise in different areas of cybercrime operations.

The unit also receives support from personnel assigned to city and provincial police offices under Police Regional Office 6.

From November 2025 through early September 2026, 63 bomb-threat cases were referred to RACU-6 for investigation.

The actual number of bomb-threat incidents during the period could exceed 100 because not all reported threats were referred to the regional anti-cybercrime unit.

Of the 63 cases referred to RACU-6, six resulted in cases filed in court.

Western Visayas also recorded eight threats involving possible school shootings from July through the end of August 2026.

No court cases have been filed in connection with those eight incidents.

The latest reported school threat involved Ramon Avanceña National High School in Arevalo district, Iloilo City.

Authorities are looking into the possibility that the person behind the latest threat is younger than 15.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, or Republic Act 9344 as amended by Republic Act 10630, a child age 15 or younger at the time of an offense is exempt from criminal liability but remains subject to an intervention program.

A child older than 15 but younger than 18 is also exempt unless authorities determine the child acted with discernment, in which case the case proceeds through the diversion or court process provided under the law.

The exemption does not eliminate possible civil liability under the law.

The latest incident comes amid a series of threats directed at schools in Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas since late 2025.

Threats sent through social media, messaging apps, or email fall under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, or Republic Act 10175, which is why such cases are referred to anti-cybercrime units rather than handled solely by station-level police.

RACU-6 has intensified its local presence as cybercrime complaints increase, working with local police units to respond to online threats, scams, and other cybercrime-related incidents across the region.