ILOILO City – The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Iloilo City campus was evacuated on the morning of October 2 after a bomb threat was received by several senior high school students from UP High School in Iloilo (UPHSI).
According to Gerthrode Charlotte Tan Mabilog, head of the UPV Information Section and faculty member, the threat originated from a spam message circulated via a hacked Facebook account belonging to a UPHSI student. The student reportedly lost access to the account before the message spread, causing alarm among the campus community.
Face-to-face classes were immediately suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Explosives and Ordnance Division of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6 EOD) quickly responded to secure the campus. By 12:35 p.m., authorities declared the premises safe.
In a public advisory, PRO-6 reminded students and the public not to spread unverified information that could cause panic, to report suspicious online activities, and to practice responsible use of social media. They also outlined safety procedures in case of bomb threats and warned that issuing false bomb threats is punishable under the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, with penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a P40,000 fine.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the threat and identify the person responsible for hacking the account.
On the other hand, UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano said in an official statement that the evacuation decision was made after consultation between the UPV Crisis Management Committee and UPHSI officials. Faculty members were instructed to shift to alternative modes of instruction to minimize disruption, while students and dormitory residents were allowed to return after the campus was cleared. All other offices will resume regular operations today, October 3.
The university administration assured stakeholders that the security and safety of UPV constituents remain a top priority, expressing gratitude to the ICPO and PRO6 EOD for their prompt response and to the community for their cooperation./PN
