POEA flees staff amid bomb threats

Police evacuated yesterday thousands of panicked employees and job applicants at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) amid reports of a bomb threat.

Elements of the explosive and ordnance division (EOD) of the Eastern Police Distirct searched for one-and-a-half hours the vacated building located in the corner of Ortigas Ave. and EDSA but found no bomb.

“We paneled the entire vicinity for bombs but there is no indication that there is one,” said Senior Inspector Darlido Aceveda, EPD’s EOD chief.

The Interior Department’s Text 117 received eight messages yesterday informing them that there is a bomb planted at the office of POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldos.

The Text 117 operator forwarded the messages to lawyer Lyn Perez, assigned at Baldos’ office at 9:05 a.m.

Upon receipt of the report, Perez rang up POEA’s chief security, Reneboy Malot, who in turn called the attention of Aceveda, who immediately rushed to the scene.

Aceveda said the evacuation procedure was ongoing when they arrived at the six-storey POEA building.

“The employees and job applicants gathered in the sidewalks outside. They were prevented from entering the building without clearance from us,” a bomb squad member said.

The movement of people in the streets resulted to a slight traffic buildup.

Augmented by two bomb sniffing K9 dogs and elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) from the Mandaluyong City police, the EPD contingent searched the building for bombs but found none.

“Together with POEA security, simultaneous paneling operation was conducted from the ground floor to the 6th floor, in different offices and public access area and every nook and corner of the building,” said Aceveda in his report to EPD director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz.

Aceveda reported that the paneling operation was completed at 10:30 a.m. resulting to a negative presence of any improvised explosive device and hazardous materials.  – Non Alquitran