Iloilo city: The city government, through the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council), has requested assistance from concerned national government agencies in handling a string of bomb threats in the city. During its regular session, Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chair of the Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order, Security, Dangerous Drugs, and Rehabilitation, authored a resolution requesting “immediate technical assistance” from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Meta to investigate bomb threats against various schools in Iloilo City.

According to Philippines News Agency, the city has been plagued by a series of bomb threats targeting schools and other institutions, leading to widespread fear, disruption of classes, and inconvenience to students, parents, and school personnel. From November 12 until noon on Wednesday, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) recorded 31 bomb threats affecting 15 schools and one commercial establishment. These threats have led to class suspensions, student evacuations, and significant disruptions to the academic calendar, particularly during finals week.

Investigations by the ICPO, the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU), and the NBI have revealed that online platforms and dummy accounts were used to disseminate these threats, presenting challenges in identifying the perpetrators. Cabaluna emphasized that the DICT, NTC, NBI, and Meta, Facebook’s parent company, possess the necessary technical expertise and resources to trace the origin of the threats, analyze digital evidence, and identify those responsible.

The resolution underscores the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of students, educators, and the general public, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive response to prevent further incidents. In a press briefing, ICPO Director Col. Kim Legada advised recipients of bomb threat messages to engage the sender and report the threat to the Philippine National Police for verification, especially if the threat specifies particular locations.