Cebu City school shooting threat: What we know so far

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

The latest development comes a day after authorities responded to the reported threat, conducted a campus-wide security inspection, and declared the school safe to continue classes.

Here’s what authorities have confirmed so far:

How the school shooting threat surfaced

The incident began on Thursday morning, July 2, after the Carbon Police Station received a report regarding a threatening Facebook post directed at a school in Barangay Pahina Central.

According to the station’s initial report, the administrator of the school’s Facebook page reported a post made by a Facebook account using the profile name “Sanzu” in the public Facebook group “RPW: BISAYA TAMBAYAN.” (BISAYA HANGOUT)

The post allegedly stated, “Bantay-bantay kay mamusil ko ugma sa mga freshmen.” (Watch out because I’m going to shoot some freshmen tomorrow.)

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) initially received information about a reported bomb threat at around 10 a.m., but further assessment showed the incident involved a shooting threat posted on Facebook and directed at the school.

Cebu school shooting threat response

Following the report, the Carbon Police Station immediately coordinated with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRU), the CCDRRMO, Barangay Pahina Central officials, and school authorities to secure the campus.

Authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the school grounds while all students entering the campus underwent security screening.

Students were also temporarily prohibited from leaving the campus until the inspection had been completed.

Police likewise coordinated with the school administration and the school board throughout the operation.

After the inspection, authorities said no imminent threat or suspicious items were found inside the campus.

The school board later decided to continue classes.

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

Where the investigation stands

A day after the incident, Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Z. Oriol, Deputy City Director for Administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said investigators had already obtained the social media account used to publish the threat.

He said the social media post has since been submitted to the police’s cybercrime unit for digital 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, he clarified that authorities have yet to determine whether the person behind the account is a student or what motivated the post.

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

Charges being prepared

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

Asked what specific charges authorities plan to file, he said investigators are still conducting further verification and would disclose the information once available.

“That is still subject [to] 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 being repeated.Security remains heightened

Increased security

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office City Director Police Colonel Ricky C. Sumalde said police have increased security and police visibility at the affected school as well as other schools across Cebu City while the investigation continues.

He said the CCPO remains in coordination with the Cybercrime Unit, the NBI, and intelligence operatives as authorities work to identify the person behind the account.

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

“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 threatening messages on social media and instead seek assistance from law enforcement authorities if they have concerns or encounter problems.

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

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