The Iloilo City Government has strengthened its coordination with law enforcement agencies and is offering a P100,000 reward for information that can identify the person behind the series of bomb threats that continue to disrupt schools across the metro.
Mayor Raisa Treñas convened the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), including its Cybercrime Division, on Monday, November 17, to speed up investigations and reinforce security measures in learning institutions.
The city noted that many public and private schools experienced class disruptions on Tuesday, November 18, due to the threats.
Officials said the city views the situation as both an education concern and a broader public safety issue, prompting a more urgent and coordinated response.
Treñas emphasized that the city is improving information-sharing and maximizing available technology to track the origins of the messages that have repeatedly halted classes since early October.
She said that the city is coordinating closely with national and regional law enforcement units and announced a P100,000 reward for anyone who can help identify the person behind the threats.
The latest wave of hoax threats triggered evacuations and class suspensions in several campuses, including Iloilo National High School, West Visayas State University’s main and Calinog campuses, ISAT-U La Paz, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, and Iloilo Doctors’ College (IDC).
These cases add to a recurring pattern of threats targeting local schools over recent weeks.
Authorities plan to implement additional precautions in the coming days, including tighter monitoring around school grounds and expanded cyber investigations to trace the digital trail of the messages.
Investigators are also assessing potential links among the incidents.
The city government continues to urge public cooperation as it prioritizes the safety of students and the wider community.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.