Classes in Caloocan City school suspended over bomb threat

MANILA, Philippines — Classes in the Pangarap Elementary School in Caloocan City were suspended early Tuesday after the principal and assistant principal received a bomb threat through a text message in her cellphone.

The Caloocan City SWAT operatives however found no bomb in the school premises, a faculty member told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone around 8 a.m.

“The children have been sent home. They’re through with the inspection. It’s OK,” said Maila Taunan, faculty president at the Pangarap Elementary School.

Nevertheless the school administration decided to suspend classes for the rest of the day. Classes in the adjoining Pangaray High School were also suspended, according to Taunan.

Pangarap Elementary School has about 4,000 pupils and more than 80 faculty members and staff.

It is located inside the Pangarap Village in Caloocan City North.

Taunan said a demolition was pending in the area but did not know if it was connected to the bomb threat.

She said the bomb threat reached their principal, Dr. Rose Lorenzo and assistant principal before 6 a.m. when classes have not yet started and most pupils have not arrived.

She said the text message read: “May bomba na sasabog ngayon at sa mga susunod na araw [A bomb will explode today and over the folllowing days].”

The pupils who were inside the campus and those who were arriving were gathered at the covered court by the school entrance, and told to go home.

Taunan said the school has not yet announced whether classes would resume Wednesday.