Bomb scare hits mall in Cebu IT Park on Friday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A bomb threat prompted a massive security operation and partial lockdown at a mall in Cebu IT Park on Friday afternoon, July 3, as police bomb experts, SWAT personnel, K-9 units, firefighters, and emergency responders swept the premises to verify the report.

Authorities received the bomb threat at around 3:40 p.m. through a social media message claiming that an improvised explosive device (IED) had been planted inside a comfort room on the mall’s second floor.

The message alleged that unidentified individuals had placed a timer bomb inside the building, prompting authorities to immediately activate emergency response protocols.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) head Dave Tumulak confirmed the incident, saying authorities immediately responded to secure the area and assess the credibility of the threat.

Within minutes of receiving the report, responders established an Incident Management Team (IMT) and a command post at Garden Bloc while alerting police bomb experts and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

READ: Talisay City Hall closed on Tuesday due to bomb threat

Bomb threat response

Emergency responders from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Barangay Apas Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), Mabolo Police Station, the PNP’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, K-9 units, and mall security personnel converged on the area.

At around 4:30 p.m., SWAT personnel entered the mall and began systematic inspection and clearing operations with assistance from mall security officers.

By 4:40 p.m., authorities had declared the second floor clear.

Five minutes later, responders cleared the ground floor.

At 4:49 p.m., the SWAT team also declared the third floor clear, although authorities continued search and validation operations throughout the building.

As of posting time, authorities had not recovered any explosive device.

Police have yet to determine whether the bomb threat was credible or a hoax.

Authorities continued validating the source of the social media message while maintaining heightened security around the mall.

Emergency responders remained deployed as police pursued clearing operations and investigated the origin of the bomb threat.

The Philippine National Police has yet to issue a final assessment on the incident.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

READ: Bomb threat disrupts classes in Lucena public high school

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