Bomb scares in Makati turn out to be false alarm

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Bomb scares fueled by abandoned luggage and a text message in Makati City on Sunday turned out to be false alarm, according to the Makati Police Explosives and Ordinance Division (Makati EOD).

A report from the Makati EOD said a luggage was left unattended at 1:15 p.m. at the Magallanes Interchange in Barangay Bangkal.

An EOD team checked the luggage and discovered it was empty.

The same day, a text message warning of a bomb planted at the Bangkal Barangay Hall was supposedly sent to a Bantay Bayan and closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) operator at 5:09 p.m.

Makati EOD’s report said the text message read: “BANTAY BAYAN ISA LAMANG AKO CONCERN SA ATIN. NAPAGALAMAN KO ISANG EMPLYADO NG BANGKAL NAG IWAN NG BOMBA SA LOOB. MAARING SUMABOG ILANG ORAS.”

The EOD team with the assistance of Makati Rescue team and a K9 dog conducted paneling operation at the said barangay hall and the search came back negative. /cbb