By CESAR JOLITO III
Two universities in southern Negros Occidental were hit by separate bomb threats within a 24-hour span, prompting immediate security responses and coordination with cybercrime authorities, police confirmed yesterday.
Authorities said the first bomb threat was received at 12:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, at the West Visayas State University – Himamaylan Campus.
The threat, received through social media, cited “unfair treatment of faculty and staff to students” as its supposed motive.
Police later identified the owner of the account used to issue the threat, but she claimed her account had been hacked.
Just hours later, at 1:30 a.m. yesterday, a second bomb threat was reported at the Central Philippines State University in Kabankalan City.
Authorities said the case remains under investigation.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams with K9 units were deployed to both campuses. Thorough paneling and area sweeps yielded negative results, confirming no explosives were found.
City police chiefs in Himamaylan and Kabankalan have been directed to coordinate closely with the Anti-Cybercrime Group to trace the origins of both threats and determine possible links.
Authorities urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, warning that individuals responsible for issuing bomb threats — real or fabricated — may face serious criminal charges.
Cyber coordination, digital tracing
The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has strengthened its coordination with anti-cybercrime units and information and communications technology (ICT) experts as part of a region-wide effort to counter a series of bomb threats reported in recent days.
PRO-NIR Director Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay has ordered the activation of enhanced cyber-monitoring systems, digital forensics assistance and expanded technical investigation protocols aimed at swiftly tracing and validating threats sent through online platforms, mobile messaging, and other anonymous digital channels.
“Our priority is public safety. We are working closely with our cybercrime investigators and ICT specialists to identify the sources of these threats and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” Ibay said.
Under the intensified coordination efforts, PRO-NIR and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit are now implementing real-time digital tracking technologies to immediately locate the origin of electronic bomb threats. This includes technical support in analyzing digital footprints, metadata and communication patterns that may lead to the identification of suspects.
Authorities have also expanded intelligence-sharing channels, linking law enforcement agencies, ICT stakeholders, and local government units to streamline information flow and speed up threat validation.
Alongside the cyber measures, PRO-NIR assured the public that Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and K9 units are on standby for immediate deployment to any area reporting a potential threat.
Police stations regionwide have likewise intensified community awareness drives to encourage timely reporting and prevent unnecessary alarms.
“All reported threats are handled with the utmost seriousness, and our security protocols are fully in place to protect communities across the region,” Ibay added.
He also urged the public to remain calm yet vigilant, noting that false bomb threats — often spread through digital avenues — carry severe legal consequences.
“False bomb threats disrupt peace and cause undue panic, but they are crimes with serious penalties. PRO-NIR will relentlessly pursue those who spread fear through digital means,” he said./CJ, WDJ