Fake bomb disrupts classes in Pasig school

MANILA, Philippines–Students of Rizal High School in Pasig City were dismissed early on Tuesday after one of them found a fake improvised explosive device (IED) in one of the toilets.

The IED was found by a Grade 9 student around 9:30 a.m. on the second floor of one of the school buildings, Pasig deputy chief of police for operations Supt. Joey Aquino said.

He added that the student reported his find to a janitor, Ronald Padilla, who called authorities.

A police team that went to the area confirmed that the fake bomb, which was in a plastic box, did contain materials usually found in an IED such as a timing device, a cell phone and batteries. But instead of explosives, the “dynamite” contained sand, according to bomb technician SPO3 Bernard Dulay.

The bomb threat prompted school officials to send home the 2,000 Grade 9 students occupying the three-story Isidro Rodriguez Building which was undergoing renovation.