ILOILO City – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has issued a strong rebuke against the series of bomb threats disrupting colleges and universities in recent days, warning that anyone behind these scare attempts will face the full force of the law.
The statement comes as several campuses in Iloilo continue grappling with repeated threats that have caused class suspensions, evacuations, and tightened campus security.
In a public notice released midweek, CHED denounced the incidents as deliberate efforts to sow fear and disorder in higher education institutions (HEIs). It stressed that spreading false claims about explosives, incendiary devices, or similar hazards — whether online or through direct messages — constitutes a criminal act that will not be tolerated.
The advisory follows a succession of threats highlighted in earlier reports, which noted that schools across Iloilo City and nearby municipalities have been hit since November 17. Among those affected were West Visayas State University (WVSU) Main Campus, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) La Paz and Calinog campuses, several senior high school facilities, and private institutions such as Hua Siong College of Iloilo and St. Anthony’s College.
At WVSU, administrators suspended on-site classes after receiving a dawn message claiming explosives had been planted on campus. Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, K9 units, and Army personnel swept the grounds and found no bombs, but classes remained online for the day as a precaution. Similar clearing operations were carried out at ISAT-U and other affected campuses following comparable threats.
CHED reminded schools that under Presidential Decree 1727, in relation to Republic Act 11479 and current Philippine National Police (PNP) protocols, all reported threats must be handled as credible until investigators rule them out. It urged universities and colleges to maintain tight coordination with police and other security units, especially amid concerns about possible orchestrated attempts to disrupt academic operations.
“Campuses must remain secure environments for teaching and learning,” CHED said in its statement, adding that fear-based disruptions undermine the mission of institutions tasked with shaping the nation’s future workforce. The agency also appealed to students, teachers, and the wider academic community to stay alert and promptly report anything suspicious.
CHED warned that individuals who issue bomb threats or circulate misleading information designed to cause alarm will be held fully liable and prosecuted. Ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the commission emphasized, is a paramount priority — and it vowed to support measures that protect both campus security and institutional integrity as threats continue to unsettle educational communities./PN
