Mayor Honey orders inspection of Manila City Hall after earthquake

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan ordered city engineer Armand Andres to inspect the old structure of Manila City Hall following the earthquake on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Lacuna-Pangan said that the inspection aims to ensure the city hall's structural integrity after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit Metro Manila around 4:23 p.m.

She said they have to find out if the earthquake has affected its structure or if it left any cracks that can cause danger in the future.

The mayor also urged the city barangay heads to inspect their respective areas to know if any buildings or structures have been affected.

Meanwhile, Lacuna-Pangan clarified that the city hall did not receive any bomb threats after news about a bomb scare from an email circulated on Tuesday afternoon before the earthquake.

However, Manila Police District (MPD) chief Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay still ordered the explosives and ordnance division to conduct an inspection in the city hall as well as in the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) building in Intramuros.

The MPD-District Explosive and Canine Unit (DECU) said the area was cleared and there was no presence of a bomb. 

The city mayor said that it intensifies the precautionary measures after the bombing incident at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

Lacuna-Pangan urged the city employees and its residents to always be vigilant and to immediately report to the authorities any suspicious activities.

She also ordered Ibay to inspect and ensure the safety of places such as schools, shopping malls, and churches in the city.