Student behind Mambaling school bomb scare known

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak yesterday said authorities have already confirmed the identity of the person behind the hoax bomb threat in Mambaling National High School last Wednesday.

The bomb scare prompted the school to suspend classes.

Tumulak, deputy mayor for peace and order, said that they have identified the student who allegedly spread the false information through a fake Facebook account in the name of a certain Diane Dela Cruz.

"Ang maong ghost account gihimo sa usa ka estudyante aron pagpanghadlok diha sa eskwelahan," he said.

The account was then deactivated by the holder after it was noticed by the authorities.

Tumulak said the account name is not the real name of the student.

"Naa na miy na-identify pero kinahanglan daghang mo-confirm kay lisod man sad kung ibulgar nato iyang pangalan," he said.

They also found out the student is a member of a certain fraternity, which was observed to be very widespread in schools.

"Ato sab giawhag ang mga magtutudlo nga ipatawag ang mga fraternities sa mga eskwelahan. Dili para buwagon sila but patabangon sa security sa atong eskwelahan," Tumulak said.

He wanted the fraternities to be recognized by the members’ respective barangays as part of the promotion of peace and order.

Meanwhile, Councilor Joy Augustus Young, deputy mayor for education, said the student who made the false bomb threat should undergo counseling and community service.

Young said that it is important to talk with the student and let her understand the consequences of her action.

He also said there is a DepEd memorandum that requires all teachers to discuss bomb threats in schools.

As to the bomb threat that led to the suspension of classes in public schools of Cebu City recently, City Schools Superintendent Bianito Dagatan commended the teachers for handling the situation appropriately.

"Sa atong assessment, wala magkuwang ang atong mga teachers. Na-handle ra nila ang mga bata," he said.

Meanwhile, DepEd-Cebu province urged parents to help authorities monitor schools against suspicious-looking persons in school premises.

Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud, Cebu province schools division superintendent, said parents should join the Parent Brigade, which is a group of volunteer parents who help the schools of their children by doing works such as feeding.

“Magkaila man gud na sila.  Ug naay matan-awan nga tawo nga wala nila mailhi sultian ang principal. Naa man na sila diha pirmi, so ato na lang pud sila gikuan nga dili lang sa feeding, diili lang sa cleanliness, apil na pud anang determining people nga dili kaila nga mosulod sa school,” she said.

Angtud said she has issued a memorandum to all school principals in the province that remind them to be always ready in times of bomb threats similar to what happened in Cebu City last Tuesday.

She said children must be evacuated from classrooms if in case a similar incident happens in schools in the province similar to what they previously did during earthquake or fire drills.

She said she also welcomed the plan of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to train teachers on bomb or improvised explosive device identification and how to control situations like when there is a bomb scare.  —  Micah Sophia Marcellones, Le Phyllis F. Antojado (FREEMAN)