ILOILO City — The bomb threat wave that began disrupting Iloilo City universities last week has widened, sweeping across Iloilo Province and into Antique, with dozens of schools suspending classes, evacuating students, and shifting to online instruction on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
At St. Anthony’s College in San Jose, Antique, an anonymous sender claimed to have planted eight timed explosive devices across multiple buildings.
“I have planted 8 timed bombs in the campus of St. Anthony’s College, 2 at the kinder building and 4 at the main building. Some are set to turn off this evening. This is due to the unjust treatment of some teachers to students. Good luck everyone,” the message read.
The threat forced officials to clear classrooms and move students to an open field.
Antique Provincial Police Office director Police Colonel Lea Rose Peña rushed to the scene to oversee the response as officers cordoned off buildings and conducted systematic sweeps.
As of press time, authorities have not confirmed the discovery of any explosive device but emphasized that all threats are being treated with full seriousness.
ILOILO SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN AGAIN
What began as multiple campus evacuations in Iloilo City on Nov. 17 escalated further on Tuesday, hitting Iloilo Doctors’ College, University of San Agustin, Colegio de San Jose, Central Philippine University, and Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) campuses in Estancia and Ajuy towns.
Iloilo Doctors’ College suspended all classes and office work at 11 a.m., issuing a safety directive: “In order to ensure the safety and security of our IDCian Community, all classes and office work are suspended due to a bomb threat received this morning. All students, faculty, and staff are to go home calmly but immediately,” the Office of the Administrator stated.
CPU temporarily shifted all classes online, resuming office operations only after police cleared the campus at 8:45 a.m.
Secondary schools were also hit, including Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS), Janiuay National Comprehensive High School, Ramon Avanceña NHS, Jalandoni Memorial NHS, and Carvasana NHS in Calinog. Images circulated showing students being sent home in large groups.
The repeated disruptions have heightened fears across Western Visayas, forcing authorities to mobilize resources beyond school-level responses.
PNP: THREATS LIKELY FROM SAME PERSON OR GROUP
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan said investigators have detected striking similarities across threats sent to schools in different towns and provinces.
“Maghintay ka lang, pagna-identify ka namin, sigurado kakasuhan ka namin. Meron kaming nakita na limang commonalities like ‘yung instruction niya na ‘nagtanim ako ng 3 bomba’ and ispenicify niya ang areas niya… ang gumagawa nito, one or the same person or isang groupo na iisa lang yung pinag sesendan nila,” Razalan stressed.
He said police are enhancing visibility and patrols near campuses and urged students to immediately report suspicious individuals or activities.
CALL FOR REGION-WIDE SECURITY UPGRADE
With schools across two provinces now affected, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have activated a wider coordinated response involving local governments and law enforcement.
“Schools are actively calling for the accountability of those behind these threats. So far, our universities are coordinating effectively with local authorities and the Philippine National Police. I urge university administrations to take immediate action to protect our students, teachers, staff, and the surrounding community,” CHED regional director Dr. Raul Muyong said.
Authorities are now pushing for:
* Stronger police presence during drop-off and dismissal times
* Closer coordination with school heads and barangay officials
* More thorough investigation and monitoring of campus surroundings
* Rapid-shift protocols for moving classes online when necessary
ANTIQUE JOINS ILOILO IN ALERT MODE
The St. Anthony’s College evacuation marked the first major spillover of the Iloilo threat wave into Antique — a development local officials say confirms that the problem is no longer contained within a single province.
Footage showed hundreds of students gathered calmly on a field as buildings were locked down and searched.
APPO investigators are now working to trace the sender while awaiting full clearance of the campus.
The growing number of schools affected — from Iloilo City to Estancia, Ajuy, Janiuay, Calinog, and now San Jose, Antique — underscores what police warn may be a region-wide orchestrated series of attacks using anonymous social media accounts.
As investigations continue, CHED, DepEd, and the PNP are urging the public to remain calm but vigilant, stressing that community reporting and strict adherence to advisories are crucial in preventing panic and ensuring safety./PN
