A teacher’s aide who is reportedly mentally challenged was suspected to be behind the hoax bomb threat that sent worried parents rushing to the Mandaue City Central School on Thursday morning.
The text messages sent to two teachers and a parent warning that a bomb will explode in the school was traced to a certain “Gang-Gang”, Chief Insp. Oscar Monterroyo, chief of the Police Community Relations (PCR) of the Mandaue City Police Office, said.
An operation to locate the woman is in progress, police said.
Police said “Gang-Gang”’s phone number was registered in the cellphones of the two teachers who received the text messages.
Police said there had been instances where “Gang-Gang” was seen talking to herself. The woman used to help out in the preparatory class of teacher Veronica Mayol.
“Gang-Gang” would usually handle the class when Mayol is absent. Mayol was recently reprimanded for her absences, Rita Cabahug, the school principal, said.
Cabahug said it was only last Wednesday that she learned about Mayol having “Gang-Gang”.
Cabahug said teachers are not allowed to engage a third party in handling classes.
“Dili man kono sila pwede naay teacher’s aide kay ang mga bata ma dependent kono (Teacher’s aides were not allowed since the children will be dependent on them),” Cabahug said.
Cabahug said rumors that a bomb will explode in the school started circulating last Monday. This prompted the school to seek help of the police.
To avoid causing panic, the school made it appear that the policemen were in the school to conduct a dialog with grade 6 students regarding drug awareness and fraternity-related issues.
Cabahug said “Gang-Gang” was asked to stop reporting last Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, text messages warning about the killing of 10 children circulated. The text message read: “Ugma naay mga bata nga pamatyon 100 kabuok alas 10 sa buntag (100 children will be killed at 10 a.m. tomorrow).
Around 10 a.m. Thursday, a woman called the City Tactical Operations Center (CTOC) informing the police about a hostage-taking incident in the school.
A mobile patrol rushed to the school to check.
Police were informed that no such thing happened.
At least 200 parents arrived in the campus and demanded that they be allowed to bring their children home.
Security was tightened at the school following the incident.