ILOILO City – A wave of bomb threats that forced the shutdown of multiple schools and triggered mass evacuations across Iloilo City and province on Monday is now being investigated as part of a possible coordinated pattern, with police confirming at least 11 related incidents since Nov. 12 — and earlier cases stretching back to October.
The latest surge hit five schools almost simultaneously on Nov. 17: Iloilo National High School (INHS), West Visayas State University (WVSU) Main, WVSU Calinog, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) La Paz, and Hua Siong College of Iloilo. Clearing operations by the police’s Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) teams and military K9 units disrupted morning classes and sent thousands of students and personnel out of their campuses.
Police said the striking similarity in the timing, structure, and method of the threats strongly suggests the messages may not be isolated pranks.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Richard Habawel, chief of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 (RACU 6), confirmed the ongoing probe into a potential organized source behind the threats.
“We are doing our best to assist the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) in locating and identifying those behind these threats,” Habawel said.
A Pattern Unfolding Across Campuses
At INHS, a threat sent to the school’s page and flagged by teachers prompted a pre-dawn sweep, with police declaring the campus safe shortly after 4 a.m. Administrators urged parents and students to follow only official advisories to avoid panic.
At the WVSU Main Campus in the city’s La Paz district, a message claiming bombs had been planted in various buildings — including nursing and education facilities — halted in-person classes.
A similar message was sent to WVSU Calinog by a Facebook user named “Milstone,” who listed explosives supposedly placed in the College of Business and Management, ICT Building, Agriculture area, pavilion, and ROTC building.
Both campuses shifted to online learning while police combed the areas.
ISAT-U La Paz, which had faced a bomb scare on Nov. 13 from a sender named “Shubeyaa Lily,” again suspended physical classes after receiving a new threat.
Hua Siong College of Iloilo implemented lockdown measures following its own warning Monday morning.
The series also includes threats reported in past weeks — the University of San Agustin Basic Education Department (Nov. 12), WVSU Janiuay (Nov. 13 via “Loo Lily”), and UP High School in Iloilo (Oct. 2), the earliest known case in the string.
Police Regional Office 6 director Police Brigadier General Josefineo Ligan denounced the repeated disruptions, saying these were clearly designed to terrorize communities and paralyze school operations.
“We urge everyone to stay calm and vigilant. Ensuring the safety of our schools remains our foremost concern,” Ligan said.
WVSU president Dr. Joselito Villaruz said the threats have taken a psychological toll on students and teachers, stressing the need for decisive government action to stop the perpetrators.
Trail Points To More Than Just ‘Dummy’ Accounts
Habawel noted that many of the social media accounts used in the threats are newly created or anonymous, but investigators cannot dismiss the possibility of a group orchestrating the incidents.
“The accounts being used vary, and we cannot simply call them dummy accounts. It is still an ongoing investigation, and we cannot discount the possibility that this involves a group. Rest assured, something positive will come out of this investigation, and we will bring those responsible to justice,” he said.
He warned that bomb threats — including false ones — constitute a grave offense.
“In that case, the student did not realize the gravity of their actions, but once convicted, their future was significantly affected. This is no laughing matter. Whoever is doing this is not only breaking the law but also disrupting the normal flow of students’ education and affecting local businesses. We hope they stop immediately because, in due time, we will identify them,” Habawel added.
Hefty Penalties Await Offenders
RACU 6 said charges may include violations of the Bomb Joke Law (Presidential Decree 1727) and the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act 10175) — both carrying stiff penalties of imprisonment and fines.
“RACU 6 is fully capable of assisting ICPO and IPPO to ensure that all cases are properly handled,” Habawel said.
Authorities urged parents, students, and the public to report suspicious activities immediately, stressing that the safety of schools and communities remains their top priority.
All affected schools have since tightened entry checks, boosted campus security, and moved to temporary online learning modes as investigations continue./PN
