IN A MEMORANDUM released on the afternoon of February 12, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ announced that the Ateneo had been cleared of any bomb threats.
“With the police authorities, we are now following some leads,” the memo read.
The administration suspended classes and office work at 12:00 PM onwards after three Ateneo employees received a text message saying, “May mga bomba na sasabog sa Ateneo. Paniguradong madaming studyante at emplyedo ang mamatay. 30 minuto mula ngayon. (Bombs will explode in the Ateneo. A lot of students and employees will surely be killed 30 minutes from now).”
The text messages were sent between 9:00 to 9:30 AM by an unregistered number.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said that the police have since traced the source of the text message to somewhere in Marikina City, Jeff Canoy of ABS-CBN News reported via his Twitter account.
During a press briefing held in Faber Hall, Villarin said that the administration is working closely with authorities to identify the perpetrator of the bomb scare and to determine his or her motive.
Should a suspect be identified, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Chief Superintendent Richard Albano said that he or she will only be facing minor charges, including a dissemination of false information case.
Classes will resume on February 13, but Villarin said the university would be tightening its security measures.
Starting February 13, Megaforce Integrated Security Agency (MISA), the Ateneo’s security services provider, will to deploy more security personnel around campus.
MISA Detachment Commander to the Ateneo Darwin Enguerra, CSP said that all vehicles entering the campus will be inspected. He added that these security measures will be in place “until further notice.”
According to Villarin, the administration will be collaborating with MISA to improve security personnel training.
He added that the administration will be devising a communication plan to properly explain the bomb scare incident to members of the Ateneo Grade School (AGS), the Ateneo High School (AHS) and the Loyola Schools (LS).
Timeline of events
According to National Capital Region Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria, the bomb threat was sent to three Ateneo employees at 9:24 AM, 9:26 AM and 9:29 AM. He said that the Ateneo administration contacted the PNP at 9:58 AM.
The first of the five teams from the QCPD Explosives and Ordinance Division arrived on campus at 10:05 AM.
Three units were assigned to bomb sweep the LS, while two teams were deployed to inspect the AGS and the AHS.
The Residence Halls were given priority for the bomb sweep. These were cleared by 2:45 PM.
Students and employees were allowed to enter school premises and to retrieve their belongings at around 5:00 PM.
Though Villarin was proud of how the community conducted themselves during the evacuation, he said, “Because of this, I think we need to be more sensitive and be more circumspective when we conduct ourselves when we are in the campus.”
With reports from Apa M. Agbayani.
Editor’s Note: An updated story on the bomb threat will be included in the February issue of The GUIDON.
UPDATED: 8:45 AM, February 13, 2014
