CEBU CITY – Classes in two universities here were disrupted due to bomb threats that turned out to be a hoax on Monday, Oct. 21.
A K9 team sweeps through the Cebu Institute of Technology-University after a netizen posted on Facebook that a bomb was planted in the campus on Monday, Oct. 21. (Photo from CCPO)
The two bomb threats were posted on Facebook but after a thorough inspection, no explosives were found from the campuses of the Cebu Technological University (CTU) and Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U).
The two locations were subsequently declared safe.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) condemned the act, asserting that such threats aim to incite chaos and panic within the community.
Because of the incident, classes at CTU were suspended until Tuesday, Oct. 22. Some classes at CIT-U will be conducted online asynchronously until Tuesday.
Police Col. Antonietto Cañete, chief of CCPO, said investigators have determined the initial identity of the netizen responsible for the bomb scare at CTU.
A certain John Steve posted on Facebook that read: “Hello Technologists. Bomb successfully planted.”
A separate bomb threat was also posted in a Facebook group page of CIT-U with a caption that read: “Goodbye GLE building.”
Both posts were accompanied with photos showing what looked like a bomb detonating device.
Bomb-sniffing dogs and Explosive Ordnance Division personnel were dispatched to the two campuses to check the threats.
“CCPO is also conducting a thorough investigation to identify the individual behind the social media account name, John Steve,” the CCPO said.
The CCPO reminded the public that bomb jokes and threats are serious offenses and violators may face severe consequences, including a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of P40,000.