More bomb threats hit Caloocan

Three more bomb threats caused panic and needless anxiety among Caloocan residents as false alarms were reported in several establishments, including a high school building, a shopping mall and a furniture shop in Caloocan City, authorities said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin Mantele, Caloocan City police chief, said the threats the other day turned out to be negative for explosives. Mantele said the cases mostly involved prank calls perpetrated by misguided individuals.

He advised the public to stay calm and immediately call the police for assistance in these cases.

The police chief also advised all establishments, schools and other buildings in the city to install caller IDs so prank calls could be deterred.

The first bomb threat was reported at 2:20 p.m. involving a call to the Deparo High School. Assistant principal Mila Nerza said a male caller had warned them of a bomb planted in the school.

At 4:15 p.m. shoppers at the Gotesco Grand Central Shopping Complex panicked when two men reportedly left suspicious-looking bags at a Bench outlet. The bags later turned out to contain clothes and electrical tools.

At 10 p.m., an employee of the Space Wood Enterprises in Jacinto Street received a call that their warehouse was set to explode. The responding SWAT team found no explosive device. – Jerry Botial