Bomb scare rocks Cebu City Hall

CEBU, Philippines — Operations at the Cebu City Hall were interrupted Friday following a bomb threat received by the city’s command center through text at 10:19 a.m. It turned out to be a hoax.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairperson of the committee on disaster risk reduction and management, said that works were suspended to allow the police to check every corner of the City Hall building.

Those who have transactions at City Hall were advised to return on Tuesday next week since Monday is a regular holiday in the country to commemorate the National Heroes Day.

City Hall workers, including the transacting public, were immediately evacuated to the nearby Plaza Sugbo while members of the bomb squad unit conduct a clearing operation.

“Dali natong gipa-evacuate ang atong mga empleyado sa duha nato ka buildings while our PNP (Philippine National Police) bomb squad, BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection), CSU (Crime Suppression Unit), and disaster personnel conducted thorough sweep in every office. We also temporarily closed the roads around the City Hall,” Mayor Edgardo Labella posted on Facebook.

Labella has directed the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to investigate the incident and identify the person responsible. The mayor wants the prankster to face the legal consequence of his/her action.

Police Colonel Josefino Ligan, CCPO director, said he immediately dispatched the

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team along with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOC) unit after receiving the report.

"Wala man pu'y nakita pa nuon…but pertaining to the number nga nag text which is gi-subject na na for technical, para mahibaw-an nato og kinsa gyud na sya," said Ligan.

Except for the panic that the text message had caused among the employees and the public, there was no other untoward incident reported.

"Kung kinsa ning pang text og mga bomb threats, we are coordinating with the other agencies na para mahibaw-an nato ni sya, it's not good," Ligan said.

He said they have already coordinated with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU-7) to help them trace the owner of the cell number used in texting. If necessary, the police are also planning to seek the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7.

Tumulak has also appealed to whoever was responsible to stop doing it as it would jeopardize government operations since authorities always consider every threat as serious.

“Regardless og binuang ni siya, but we should take this seriously. Ang nakaparat lang kay naka-hamper ni sa operation sa atoang city government, sa mga transactions diri sa atong dakbayan,” said Tumulak.

Yesterday’s bomb threat was the third received by City Hall since 2013. — Iris Hazel Mascardo, FPL (FREEMAN)