ILOILO City — Classes were disrupted once again in Iloilo on Wednesday, November 20, as Ateneo de Iloilo–Santa Maria Catholic School (ADI–SMCS) and Iloilo Doctor’s College carried out emergency evacuations following separate bomb threats received barely minutes apart.
At around 10:25 a.m., Ateneo de Iloilo notified its community through an official email that a message circulated on one of its social media channels warned of an explosive on campus.
School President and Acting Principal Fr. Arnel T. Ong, S.J. announced the immediate evacuation of all students, teachers, and staff, assuring parents that everyone had been moved safely to designated areas while the Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) inspected the premises.
Families were asked to retrieve their children using controlled entry and exit points to maintain orderly movement.
Only two minutes later, at 10:27 a.m., Iloilo Doctor’s College reported receiving a similar threat, prompting administrators to suspend classes and clear all buildings while awaiting police response.
A forwarded message circulated among school group chats instructed everyone on campus to leave without delay until authorities could declare the area safe.
These latest incidents add to a growing list of bomb scares that have unsettled schools throughout Iloilo City since early this year. Data shared by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) show that 34 bomb threats have been recorded from January through November 2025, with campuses in both basic and higher education repeatedly targeted.
Among those affected in previous waves were Iloilo National High School, West Visayas State University, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Iloilo Science and Technology University–La Paz, Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, UP High School in Iloilo, St. Therese–MTC Colleges, Colegio de San Jose, Fort San Pedro National High School, and SM Delgado. Many of these episodes resulted in early dismissal, full-campus evacuation, and deployment of PNP bomb squads and K9 teams.
Although none of the cleared sites have yielded actual explosive devices, authorities emphasize that every report must be handled as a serious threat until properly verified, as required under Presidential Decree 1727.
Investigators believe the surge may involve coordinated hoaxes or copycat actions amplified by rapid online sharing, but note that the repeated disruptions have forced schools to constantly adjust schedules, delay assessments, and navigate heightened anxiety within their communities.
At Ateneo de Iloilo, parents hurried to the school grounds to pick up their children while security personnel and police officers supervised movement around the buildings. Students waited in open areas under faculty supervision as the school coordinated closely with law enforcement to manage foot traffic and maintain safety.
Police are continuing to trace the origins of the messages, and more updates are expected from the Iloilo City Police Office. In the meantime, schools across the city remain on heightened alert as administrators strengthen safety protocols and communication lines amid the persistent wave of threats./PN
