Cebu school shooting threat: Cybercrime unit, NBI tapped to trace poster

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police have obtained the name used by the social media account that posted a shooting threat against a Cebu City school and have submitted the post to their cybercrime unit while coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify the person behind the account.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Z. Oriol, Deputy City Director for Administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), investigators have already obtained the name associated with the account used to post the threat.

He said the social media post has been submitted to the police’s cybercrime unit for further investigation, while the school has also coordinated with the NBI to help identify the person behind the account.

“Naa na ta’y nadawat na pangalan sa social media, katong tawo nga nag-post. So, katong social media post, i-submit karon nato sa cybercrime unit, ug ang school authorities pud nakig-alayon pud sa NBI karon, according to them, to help them identify that particular person. So, that will be subject sir for further investigation,” Oriol said.

(We have already received the name of the person who posted on social media. We will submit that social media post to the cybercrime unit now, and the school authorities are also coordinating with the NBI, according to them, to help identify that particular person. So that will be subject, sir, to further investigation.)

However, Oriol said authorities have yet to determine whether the person behind the account is a student or what motivated the post.

READ: School shooting threat reported in Cebu City

Charges to be filed over school shooting threat

Oriol said police intend to file criminal charges once the person responsible for the post is identified.

Asked what specific charges authorities intend to file, Oriol said investigators are still conducting further verification and will disclose the information once available.

“That is still subject for investigation, but definitely, that has something to do with cybercrime,” Oriol said.

He added that authorities are pursuing the case to deter similar incidents from happening again.

READ: Baguio eyes drills for response to school shooting, violence

Police tighten school security

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office City Director Police Colonel Ricky C. Sumalde said on Friday, July 3, that police have increased security and police visibility at the affected school as well as other schools across Cebu City following Thursday’s threat.

He said the CCPO continues to coordinate with the Cybercrime Unit, the NBI, and intelligence operatives as efforts to identify the person behind the post continue.

“Patuloy po tayong nakikipag-coordinate sa iba-ibang agencies like the Cybercrime Unit, NBI, at effort na rin po ng ating intelligence operatives,” Sumalde said.

(We continue to coordinate with different agencies like the Cybercrime Unit, NBI, and our intelligence operatives are also putting in the effort.)

He also urged the public to refrain from posting threats on social media and instead seek assistance from law enforcement authorities if they have concerns or encounter problems.

No threat found

The latest development stemmed from Thursday’s reported shooting threat against a school in Barangay Pahina Central.

According to Carbon Police Station, the threat originated from a Facebook account using the profile name “Sanzu,” which allegedly posted in the public Facebook group RPW: BISAYA TAMBAYAN: “Bantay-bantay kay mamusil ko ugma sa mga freshmen.”

(RPW: BISAYA TAMBAYAN: Watch out, because I will shoot some freshmen tomorrow.)

The report prompted Carbon Police Station, together with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRU), the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), Barangay Pahina Central officials, and school authorities, to conduct a campus-wide security inspection.

READ: No threat found at Cebu City school after shooting scare

Authorities found no imminent threat or suspicious items during the inspection, after which the school board decided to continue classes.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the identity of the person behind the social media account and determine the motive behind the post.

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