Negros schools cancel classes due to threats

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Several schools in Negros Island Region (NIR) have suspended in-person classes due to alleged bomb threats and other security concerns.

Officials of the Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental yesterday shifted to online mode of learning after the school received a bomb threat.

The threat was reportedly e-mailed by a certain “Tenna Tenna” to the university’s information and communications technology division on Monday, claiming that six bombs were planted on campus.

Members of the Dumaguete City police along with bomb experts and a K-9 team as well as the Philippine Coast Guard and the military inspected the campus and found no explosive devices, particularly in areas identified in the email.

In Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, the University of St. La Salle suspended classes from Tuesday until today due to an unspecified security concern.

The university said classes would instead be conducted online.

Meanwhile, administrators of the Luisa Medel National High School assured parents and students that classes and school activities would continue under heightened security after the school received a bomb threat on social media.

In a statement, the administration said the incident was immediately reported to the Bacolod City police station 8, which deployed a team to inspect the school premises.

Authorities said the case has been referred to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit for digital forensic investigation, to identify the person or people behind the threats.