Bomb threat hits DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - A bomb threat sent officials, prosecutors and employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ) out of their offices yesterday.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that she received the threat through a text message warning of an explosive device planted inside the DOJ compound on Padre Faura street, Manila.

De Lima said she received the text message at around 10:30 a.m., prompting officials, prosecutors and employees to evacuate their offices.

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and Manila Police District’s bomb squad and K-9 units searched the area for three hours but found no bomb.

DOJ officials and employees resumed work at around 1:30 p.m.

De Lima, however, did not return to the DOJ and stayed instead at the NBI for security reasons.

 She said the bomb threat had something to do with the visitation ban at the New Bilibid Prison.

“The text stated that if I do not restore the visitation rights, there will be an explosion in the DOJ and I should not take it lightly because they are serious,” De Lima told reporters. – With Aie Balagtas See