Hoax text causes panic in Mandaue City school

CEBU, Philippines - Text messages of a supposed hostage taking and bomb threat in Mandaue City Central School have sent parents rushing to fetch their children in school yesterday morning.

The terrified parents however heave a sigh of relief after school officials told them that the information was a hoax. When parents arrived at the school, all students were inside the classrooms taking the periodical examinations.

School officials however admitted receiving a call from a concerned parent about an alleged rumor that 100 pupils will be killed on March 7. The call was received by school principal Rita Cabahug prompting the school administration to request for police security.

Benjamin Tiongzon, administrative officer at the Department of Education-Mandaue City Division, said they requested the police to secure the school yesterday.

Tiongzon said the parents did not feel the presence of the eight policemen because they were on covert deployment. The policemen were in the guise of  conducting information campaign against drug addiction.

Tiongzon said the information relayed by a concerned parent was that the killing of children will happen between 9 am to 10 am. According to Tiongson, an unknown person called up Centro Police Station to report an alleged hostage taking in Mandaue Central School.

The information was allegedly reported by radio station causing parents to panic. About 200 parents rushed to fetch their children at 11 am. They were however pacified by school officials.

Cabahug said she was surprised to see the crowd of parents outside the gate around 11 a.m. When she checked the classrooms, she saw pupils quietly taking their exams.

Cabahug said some parents claimed to have received text messages about a bomb inside the school.

Tiongzon has directed school officials to form a committee to find out who started the rumor. He said they expect the committee to submit its findings after a week.  (FREEMAN)