BACOLOD City — Three schools in Bacolod City temporarily suspended classes after alleged school shooting threats circulated on social media, but the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) later ruled out any credible threat, saying the incident was merely a prank and urging parents to educate their children on the serious consequences of making such threats.
BCPO Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia said the police investigation found no indication that the reported threats were intended to be carried out.
“Our appeal to parents and guardians is to educate and orient their children that making shooting threats should never be treated as a joke or a game,” Rebadomia said. “What may seem like fun to them can cause fear and alarm among schools, the community, and the entire City of Bacolod.”
Three educational institutions—two private schools and one public school—temporarily suspended their face-to-face classes after alleged shooting threats circulated on social media this week.
Based on the BCPO’s investigation, Rebadomia said there was “no real intention” to carry out any attack.
“It was simply a prank. The proper term is that they were just following a trend or nakiuso lang,” he said.
Despite the findings, Rebadomia said the BCPO continues to coordinate closely with school officials to ensure the safety and security of students, teachers, and school personnel.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said it immediately coordinated with school authorities and partner agencies after receiving reports of the alleged threats to verify the information, conduct security assessments, and implement preventive measures.
As part of its standard security protocols, police increased visibility in and around the affected schools, conducted inspections of school premises when necessary, and maintained close coordination with school administrators to safeguard students, faculty members, employees, and visitors.
Although initial investigations indicate that the threats were fabricated, authorities said efforts are continuing to identify those responsible and determine the source of the messages.
The PRO-NIR urged the public to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information, and rely only on official announcements from the Philippine National Police and concerned school authorities.
Police warned that spreading false information or fabricated threats can cause unnecessary panic, disrupt school operations, and expose those responsible to possible criminal and other legal liabilities.
Authorities also encouraged parents to discuss the responsible use of social media with their children, promptly report suspicious messages or activities to law enforcement, and avoid sharing unverified screenshots or online posts.
The PRO-NIR assured the public that appropriate security measures will remain in place to ensure that schools across the region continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment while the investigation continues./PN
