ILOILO City – Police have launched a full-scale cybercrime investigation and vowed to file criminal charges after a recent online bomb threat targeting Iloilo City Hall and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol triggered security operations and bomb sweeps.
The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) warned that those behind such acts will be tracked down and prosecuted.
The threat, posted on Facebook on June 14, claimed that bombs would be planted at the two government centers, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement authorities.
PRO-6 director Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said the incident is being treated with utmost seriousness and that the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) have been ordered to investigate.
“May mga na-receive tayong info. This has to stop. We will give an example doon sa mga indibidwal na gumagawa nito,” Tuaño said.
“Hindi ito hahayaan ng Police Regional Office 6. Kasuhan natin ang dapat kasuhan. Makulong ang dapat makulong,” he added.
According to ICPO director Colonel Wilbert Parilla, the threat came to the attention of authorities at around 11:30 a.m. on June 14 after a city government employee discovered a Facebook post containing threats against both Iloilo City Hall and the Provincial Capitol.
The post was allegedly uploaded by a Facebook account, which shared content from the Iloilo City Government’s official Facebook page and carried a message threatening to plant bombs in the two government buildings.
Parilla said authorities immediately initiated validation procedures, gathered intelligence, and preserved digital evidence.
“After conduct of initial investigation, data gathering and preservation of digital evidence from the Facebook account of the bomb threat sender, our personnel coordinated with RACU Region 6 and the City Explosive and Canine Unit,” Parilla said.
Police officers were deployed to Iloilo City Hall at around 2 p.m. to coordinate with security personnel while bomb detection teams conducted inspections of the premises.
Personnel from the City Explosive and Canine Unit later carried out a thorough sweep of Iloilo City Hall and the adjacent legislative building.
“Subsequently, at about 3:25 p.m., CECU personnel conducted paneling at Iloilo City Hall, including the adjacent legislative building, as assisted by the building administrator,” Parilla said.
The inspection ended at around 4 p.m., with authorities confirming that no explosive device was found in either government facility.
Parilla said investigators have preserved digital evidence linked to the social media account and are continuing efforts to identify the person responsible for the threat.
Police stressed that bomb threats are punishable under Philippine law and warned the public against using social media platforms to spread messages that cause alarm and disrupt government operations. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and could lead to criminal charges against the suspect once identified./PN
