Acorda: No need for immediate evacuation over bomb threats

MANILA, Philippines — Bomb threats should not immediately result in the evacuation of people from an area, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Tuesday as he ordered the reorientation of PNP officers on how to respond to bomb threats.

“The PNP chief has a directive for police officers to be reoriented,” PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said in a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

According to protocol, the nature of threat should first be assessed to determine if there is an immediate need to evacuate people, Fajardo said.

She noted that security personnel should be aware of their surroundings and knowledgeable on responding to bomb threats.

Fajardo said they understand that while protocol dictates there should be no immediate evacuation, administrators evacuate buildings for the safety and security of those in the area.

With this response, public services and school classes are hampered, she said.

Citing a report from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine  Group, Fajardo said 80 to 90 emails about a bomb threat were
sent on Feb. 12, attributed to Takahiro Karasawa, supposedly a Japanese
lawyer.

The real Karasawa, Fajardo said, has denied involvement in the bomb threats, saying his email account was hacked.