UP Visayas suspends on-site classes, work after bomb scare

University of the Philippines – Visayas | PHOTO: UPV’s official website

ILOILO CITY — The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) suspended in-person classes and work in its Iloilo City and Miagao campuses on Friday, Nov. 29 after a bomb scare it received through social media.

The suspensions were first announced by UPV Vice Chancellor for Administration Farisal Bagsit, who was officer-in-charge, through the university’s Facebook page.

The University of the Philippines Visayas, she said, will shift to remote learning modalities in all levels and work-from-home set up for its personnel.

At 4:40 p.m. Friday, UPV said the two campuses have been cleared by the Philippine National Police Regional Office’s Explosives and Ordnance Division.

While the university did not initially state the exact reason for the suspension, UPV Information and Publications Office director Gerthrode Charlotte Tan-Mabilog confirmed to Inquirer that it was indeed due to a bomb threat via Facebook.

Tan-Mabilog said the containing the bomb threat did not specify the location of the bomb and what time it would’ve gone off.

She had immediately reported the matter to Bagsit and Chancellor Clement Camposano, who was in transit from Bacolod at the time.

Essential health and security personnel remained, and those who lived in the dorms in both campuses who couldn’t easily go home were allowed to stay.

READ: Cebu City schools told to take stringent steps following bomb threat

This was the second bomb threat at an Iloilo university this November.

The Iloilo Science and Technology University in Iloilo City also had to suspend classes and work last Nov. 15 after a bomb threat was left in its social media’s comment section.