CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, (Philippines): The police in Central Luzon on Wednesday (July 29) reported it has been responding to 47 bomb threats in several schools in the region since May 1.
Brig Gen. Jess B. Mendez, regional police director, said lawmen dealt with or have successfully thwarted what he called malicious acts through heightened security measures.
“Police units have promptly validated every report, strengthened police visibility in and around school campuses, and worked closely with school officials, local government units, and partner agencies to safeguard students, teachers, and school personnel,” Mendez said in a report.
He said the police also dispatched its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, K9 units, and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 3 (RACU 3) to “continue to work hand in hand in responding to every reported threat while tracing the source of messages sent through social media, email, messaging applications and other digital platforms.”
While all the threats turned out to be hoaxes, “each one was treated as a real threat,” Mendez said.
The Central Luzon police have arrested two 18-year-old suspects in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. Both face criminal charges.
According to Mendez, bomb threats disrupted classes, caused fear among students, parents, and teachers, and diverted police resources from genuine emergencies. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
