By Henry Empeño | February 12, 2024

IBA, Zambales — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. called on government officials and residents to remain calm and not over-react, as a bomb threat sent via email caused panic in several provinces in Central Luzon, resulting in classes and work suspension in some schools and government offices on Monday, February 12.

In a statement sent to the media yesterday afternoon, Ebdane said that a bomb threat received by a government office at 3:50 in the morning had spread like wildfire and caused alarm in the neighboring provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan.

“Some government units reacted as a result and urged residents to monitor the situation in their area. They did right, but unfortunately the report spread fast and some people panicked,” Ebdane said.

However, the governor, who is chairman of the Central Luzon Regional Peace and Order Council, cautioned everyone not to fall for the bomb scare.

“We should analyze the content of the threat,” Ebdane said, “because experience tells us that this kind is most probably the work of someone who is crazy and wants to sow terror in the community.”

“If you would look at the threat message closely, you’d think the author had watched Netflix movies too many,” he added.

“Let us not over-react; let us not be afraid. What would happen to us if a threat like this one causes a standstill in the government?” Ebdane added.

Information from Ebdane’s office revealed why the provincial government took the bomb threat with a grain of salt. At least two emails received separately by government offices last year had warned of “high-performance bombs” planted in major public buildings and set to explode at a certain time.

The email that was purportedly sent by one Takahiro Karasawa, who identified himself as a Japanese lawyer, was received by the bureau of Plant Industry on September 8, 2023 and by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Davao del Norte on December 5, 2023.

A similar email was received on Monday by the Department of Education office in Bataan and news spread fast to nearby areas.

In Olongapo City, Schools Division Superintendent Roland Fronda suspended work and classes at 11:30 a.m. yesterday “due to an information of a possible bomb threat in government offices in Bataan.” This caused Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. to suspend work in all government offices “due to a bomb threat received by one of our office (sic).”

City Vice Mayor Jong Cortez said that other government offices in the city, like the Land Transportation Office, had followed suit in suspending work and that bomb squads began checking on government agencies as a precaution.

Asked if the city government took the bomb threat seriously, Cortez said: “Unfortunately yes.” He added that the bomb checks yielded negative findings so far.

At 2:00 p.m., the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority also sent home their employees as a precaution due to the bomb scare. 