PNP: At least 80 bomb threat reports received last Monday

PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo   (INQUIRER.net file photo /Faith Argosino)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed on Wednesday that it received about 80 to 90 reports of bomb threats last Monday, February 12.

On Monday, a bomb threat disrupted the daily schedule at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources central office in Quezon City, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) division office in Bataan, the local government of Iba, Zambales and the Department of Science and Technology’s main office, among others.

Citing the information from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they have yet to finalize the figures since authorities have been responding to late bomb scare reports until yesterday.

“Last February 12, EOD received almost 80 to 90 reports on threatening messages, and until yesterday, they are still responding to late reports,” Fajardo said in English and Filipino during a press briefing.

“We are still waiting for EOD’s data as to where these 80 reports of bomb scare, which were sent via email nationwide, came from,” she added.

Earlier, Fajardo revealed that all threats received by LGUs and government agencies were a hoax. She, however, still advised the public to remain vigilant.

According to the PNP official,  the initial investigation conducted by the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) revealed that these bomb threats were connected to the ones that occurred in September, October, and December last year.

She added that all reports were traced back to a single e-mail sender named Takahiro Karasawa, a Japanese man claiming to be a lawyer.

In a bid to stop the proliferation of these threats, the Bureau of Immigration began its investigation into the case and to identify the foreigner allegedly responsible for the series of bomb threats.