Bomb hoax: Cebu City eyes raps, has culprit's number, e-mail

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City authorities have identified the telephone number and e-mail address used to send the bomb threat that triggered the evacuation of a mall in Barangay Apas on Friday, July 3, and are now working to identify the person responsible before filing criminal charges.

According to Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, authorities had already traced the contact information linked to the threat but still needed to verify the identity of its sender.

“Ang tawo nga naghimo ani nga threat, nahibawan nato ang telephone number niya, then naa siyay email, but we need to verify kung kinsa ni. So ang atong sunod karon, is pag-identify kinsa ning tawhana,” Archival said.

(We already know the culprit’s e-mail address and phone number. The next step is to identify who it is.)

READ: LOOK: Bomb threat disrupts operations at mall in Cebu IT Park

The mayor said both the mall management and the Cebu City Government intend to file charges once the person behind the threat is identified.

“I’m sure ang mall, of course ang city, will press charges kung ato siyang mahibaw-an kinsa,” he said.

(I’m sure that the mall, and of course the city will press charges once the perpetrator is known.)

Mall declared all clear

Hours after the threat, authorities declared the mall safe following an extensive search.

According to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), the incident was reported around 3:40 p.m. on Friday, prompting the immediate activation of emergency response protocols and the controlled evacuation of the establishment.

The operation involved personnel from the CCPO, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), CCPO Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K9 (EOD-K9) Unit, the Philippine Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion Support Command, mall security personnel, and other responding agencies.

READ: Bomb scare hits mall in Cebu IT Park on Friday

Archival said four inspection teams—from the CCPO Explosive Ordnance Disposal Division, the BFP, the Philippine Army, and the CCDRRMO—conducted a comprehensive search of the mall, assisted by two K9 units.

The teams inspected Basement 1, Basement 2, Basement 3, the ground floor, and the second through fifth floors of the establishment.

According to the mayor, no explosive devices or hazardous materials were found.

At around 7:49 p.m., Archival, as chairman of the city’s Crisis Management Committee, declared the mall “all clear.”

He said mall tenants were immediately allowed to re-enter the building to prepare their stores and resume business operations, while police and other responding agencies remained on site until all tenants had safely returned.

Threat under investigation

Earlier reports showed the threat was sent through a dummy account to the mall via email and to one of its employees through Viber, claiming that a bomb had been planted in the mall’s bathroom on the second floor.

Authorities have yet to identify the individual behind the threat as the investigation continues.

Archival appealed to the public to refrain from making false bomb threats, saying such incidents unnecessarily alarm the public and disrupt businesses.

“Ang ako lang na katong mga tawo gusto magbinuang, request lang nato na we are all brothers and sisters na Pilipino diri sa Cebu. Dili lang nato binuangan, maghimo og ing-ani nga sitwasyon ba na daghan kaayo mga tawo nga maguol, daghan kaayo mga tawo nga ma-dislodge, no? Especially na ngadto nga negosyante, at this time, wala silay halin,” the mayor said.

(Those who want to play a prank, I request to remember that we are all brother and sister Filipinos here in Cebu. Do not make mischief this way, bringing sadness to many and displacing them. Think of our traders who are unable to make any sales.)

He also assured the public that the mall is safe and normal operations have resumed following the declaration of the establishment being clear.

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