Classes suspended: Bomb scare in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Classes in public schools in Cebu City were suspended after eight schools received bomb threats yesterday morning.

The schools that received the threat include the Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School, Zapatera Elementary School, Mabolo Elementary School, Lahug Elementary School, City Central School, Labangon Elementary School, Cebu Technological University, and Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology.

“We suspended all classes today aron atong schools coordinator will secure all schools. Atong gitan-aw safety lang,” said Schools Division Supt. Bienito Dagatan.  Some private schools also dismissed their high school and elementary students after hearing of the threats.

Aside from the schools, the Department of Education-Cebu City Division also received the threat call from the same mobile number – 09351080039. Its building along Imus road had to be evacuated.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, immediately sought the assistance of the police to inspect the buildings of the six schools.

He also directed schools to implement the emergency drill.

“Atong ipatuman ang emergency drill, ang nakaparat lang ani, nahunong ang pagtuon sa mga magtutudlo… ang mga  empleyado sa DepEd, dako kaayo nahimong kasamok,” Tumulak said.

In about an hour, the Explosive Ordnance Division and the Special Weapons and Tactics cleared the DepEd and Zapatera building from any trace of explosives.

Later in the day, Tumulak confirmed that the calls were a prank.

“It was a prank call. Usa ra gyod ka tawo ang nanawag from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lalake and he’s from Ilagan City, Isabela (province),” he told reporters.

Owner

The Freeman was able to trace the owner of the number on Facebook.

The owner, Karen Mae Calaupit,  a high school teacher in Ilagan, Isabela denied making the prank calls but admitted to owning the number. She clarified she had lost it when she lost her phone two months ago.

"Nawala ko po un at naiblotter ko n po.. i am innocent mam... i cant do that to innocent people lalo na sa mga bata at ako ay isang teacher din po na nagmamahal ng mga bata," reads her message to The Freeman.

"That is my mistake mam. I wasnt able to report it to the police station kasi sobrang lakas po ng ulan the tym na nawala ko ung cp ko en i wasnt expecting this wud happen in the first place," she added.

She said she had the incident blottered upon the prodding of her husband who is a policeman.

"Ngaun lang po naibloter kasi my husband called me which is also a policeman na kailangan ko daw po ayusin to otherwise my name might ruin lalo na government employee din po ako.. masasabi ko lang po sa mga taong walang magawa kundi manira ng tao sana po naman magkaroon sila ng puso kasi hindi naman po sila ung nasisira ehh..," she said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city will look for the person and pursue charges.

“Wa ta mag-anticipate ba nga dunay mga ingun ani nga matang sa way lingaw nga mga badlungon. Giuna nila og tawag ang mga skwelahan,” Tumulak said.

“Kanang ingun ana nga butang dili na pwede kakomedyahan, especially ang naa sa skwelahan atong mga bata,” Dagatan said.

In Zapatera Elementary School, for example, parents who panicked opened the back gate forcefully to get their children out, claiming it took the school a long time to let them in.

Dagatan reminded parents that panicking could lead to more problems like children getting injured or stampede.

“Ang mahitabo, mag-panic, mag-stampede, madisgraysa na hinuon ang bata nato… atong mga maestro, kutob sa ilang mahimo, ila sad na protektahan,” Dagatan said.

Test

 While he is glad the incident was but a prank, Tumulak said what happened yesterday tested how schools here would respond to emergency situations.

One of the problems that arose yesterday was the reaction of the teachers and officials who received the call.

“It takes time pa gyod to respond kay ang nahitabo, ang mga teachers nitawag sa ilang disaster coordinator, then ni connect didto’s division sa DepEd then nanawag taga DepEd sa city, unya ang city na ang nanawag to police para moadto sa area,” he said.

In cases like this, Tumulak said the teachers should coordinate with the nearest police station to respond to the emergency situation.

He said there is a need to re-educate the teachers, especially the parents.

Osmeña, for his part, said the city has to exercise necessary precautions in dealing with bomb threats.

He said the Parents Teachers Associations in different schools should form their own security group that will manage their safety.

Osmeña said he will discuss security measures with the police.

Tumulak also said he will discuss reinforcing emergency protocols, especially on information dissemination to parents, with school officials. (FREEMAN)