BOMB THREATS ROCK 6 SCHOOLS IN TARLAC

BY KEVIN GALANG

SIX schools in Tarlac City on Monday were rocked by bomb threats.

The affected schools were placed on alert status after  school officials and a village chief reported receiving online bomb threats demanding money in exchange for safety.

In a report to Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr., the  Tarlac City police said the threats were reported around 4:30 p.m. on Monday by barangay and school officials from the affected schools.

Rocked by bomb threats were the Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School in Bgy. Balete; Maligaya Elementary School in Bgy. Maligaya; Paraiso Elementary School in Bgy. Paraiso; Lourdes Elementary School in Bgy. Lourdes; San Isidro Elementary School in Bgy. San Isidro; and Central San Miguel Elementary School in Bgy. San Miguel.

Those who reported the incident included Balete barangay chairman Arnold Ladera, Central San Miguel Elementary School head teacher Fernando Altares, Maligaya Elementary School principal Vilma Caowigan, Paraiso Elementary School head teacher Janel Cayabyab, Lourdes Elementary School principal Agrefina Gomez, and San Isidro Elementary School head teacher Fatima Alimurong.

An investigation showed that between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. on Monday, the reporting officials received threatening messages via their Facebook accounts or official school pages. 

The messages came from a user identified only as “Kill Once You Decline.” The caller reportedly demanded P1 million from each school. 

The sender threatened to drop grenades from a drone onto the school premises during class hours if the demand was ignored.

Police said the suspect or suspects behind the threats remain unidentified.

Authorities immediately coordinated with the Police Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU) for clearing and paneling operations in the affected schools.

No explosives were found and no injuries reported.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the sender of the online threats.