Bomb scare disrupts court operations
CEBU, Philippines — More or less 2,000 individuals were asked yesterday to leave the Qimonda IT Center building at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City after a court employee received a bomb threat through phone call and text.
The building houses various trial courts.
Police Major Renz Talosig, chief of the Mabolo Police Station, received a report from the employee at around 1:30 p.m. yesterday.
According to Talosig, the text message read: “Mga kurapt na empleyado sa korte ning dakbayan! Pila nalang ka oras ang inyung kalipay sa pagyatak sa mga pobre. Adunay 7 ka bomba nga mokalas og daghang kinabuhi karong adlawa dinha sa edepisyo na inyong mahimutangan.
“Sa tukmang oras nga kamo wala makahibalo og hangtud mangaboang kamo sa pagpangita sa bomba kung diin kini mahimutang og kinsang tawo ang nagdala niini. MAMATAY KAMONG MGA KURAPT!!! Mabuhi ang kilosan!"
When personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) responded to the area, the about 2,000 occupants of the building were immediately asked to vacate the premises.
At the same time, the hearings were suspended, pending inspection of the building by the authorities.
Talosig said that an employee also received the same threat through a phone call.
“Murag nauna (og receive) ang text, then misunod ang call,” he said.
Police are not discounting the possibility that the threat could have been sent by an individual who wished to delay some court proceeding at that time.
“Aron di madayon ang hearing rong adlawa, naay posibilidad nga ing-ana kay siyempre ma-suspended man jud kay bomb threat man na,” said Talosig.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the whole building was cleared of any bomb threat by the EOD. — JMD (FREEMAN)
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