UNO-R suspends classes after ammunition, threat note found

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos suspended afternoon classes and work Thursday, July 16, after students found a live round of ammunition and a threatening note on campus.

Students discovered the ammunition, whose caliber had not been determined, on a stairway inside the university’s Senior High School Building at about 10 a.m., according to the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.

A handwritten note found with the ammunition contained a threat related to retaliation against bullies.

The students reported the discovery to school security personnel, who turned over the items to the university’s security and safety adviser.

The adviser later surrendered the ammunition and note to responding Police Station 6 personnel for documentation and investigation.

Police secured and inspected the area in coordination with the university administration.

Authorities are investigating the origin, circumstances, and intent behind the recovered items.

Police also asked the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to examine the ammunition and accompanying note.

Investigators are separately evaluating the contents of the written note.

PRO-NIR said no additional threat had been confirmed beyond the isolated discovery of the items.

Police remained on alert and continued coordinating with the university administration to protect students, faculty members, and other school personnel.

Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting PRO-NIR director, commended the students and school personnel for promptly and responsibly reporting the incident.

Cardiño said their actions allowed police to respond quickly and implement necessary safety measures.

The regional police office advised the public not to handle unattended suspicious objects, ammunition, or explosive materials and to immediately report those items or any threatening messages to authorities.

In a statement, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city government treats all security concerns with the utmost seriousness and remains fully committed to protecting educational institutions.

Gasataya said the Bacolod City Police Office had assured the city government that the situation was under control.

He stressed that no bomb threat or shooting incident had occurred at the university.

The discovery came nine days after authorities began investigating security threats involving four Bacolod schools, three of which shifted to online classes as a precaution.

The University of St. La Salle moved classes online from July 6–8, while Luisa Medel National High School reported a threatening social media message that was referred to cybercrime investigators.

Cardiño urged the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and report suspicious objects or activities to the nearest police station or through the 911 emergency hotline.