CEBU CITY—Bomb threats rocked the Hall of Justice buildings of the cities of Mandaue and Cebu on Wednesday afternoon, March 9.
The separate bomb threats forced employees to evacuate as police scoured the buildings.
The twin bomb threats turned out to be hoax as no explosives were found.
The first bomb threat was received through a text messsage by Presiding Judge Marlon Jay Moneva of Cebu City’s Hall of Justice situated in Quimonda Building in Barangay Carreta at 1:32 p.m.
In the text message, the sender accused the workers of the Hall of Justice of being corrupt.
The sender threatened that at least seven bombs had been planted in the building.
Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) personnel inspected the entire building along with bomb-sniffing dogs but no bomb was found.
At 2:07 p.m., the police Station 1 of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) received a call regarding a bomb threat at the Mandaue City Hall of Justice in Barangay Tipolo.
The bomb threat was also received through a text message by lawyer Rei La Bonghanoy Bernaldez.
The sender warned that a bomb had been sent to the office of the lawyer.
Operatives of the Mandaue’s Special Weapons and Tactics and EOD conducted inspected the building no explosives were found.
Brig. General Roque Eduardo Vega, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, assured that the two buildings are safe following the thorough inspections.
Vega advised the public remain vigilant and report to authorities any suspicious activity happening in the community.
Investigation is ongoing to identify the persons behind the hoax bomb threats, said Vega.