Dumaguete: Police declared Silliman University safe late Monday after an extensive security sweep found no explosive devices following a bomb threat sent by email. Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said authorities searched the five locations identified in the email but found no bombs.
According to Philippines News Agency, "After a thorough security sweep and K9 inspection, law enforcement personnel found no explosive devices and declared the university safe at around 10:10 p.m.," Polinar told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday. Despite the all-clear, the university suspended in-person classes at all levels Tuesday and shifted to online learning as a precaution.
In an advisory posted on its official Facebook page, the university also directed employees to work from home while remaining on standby to perform their duties and respond to work-related concerns. Polinar said the university's main campus was placed on lockdown at about 6 p.m. Monday after authorities received the bomb threat. The lockdown was lifted after the campus was declared secure.
A preliminary investigation found that an email sent to the university's Information and Communications Technology Division claimed explosive devices had been planted at the Luce Auditorium, the Senior High School buildings, the third floor of Oriental Hall, the Junior High School and Channon Hall. Personnel from the Dumaguete City Police Station, the Explosives and Ordnance Division, K9 units of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Army, and other law enforcement agencies responded to the incident.
Authorities evacuated people from the campus, diverted traffic in surrounding areas and conducted systematic inspections of the five locations identified in the email, Polinar said. The Negros Oriental police Cybercrime Unit is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to identify and locate the sender of the email. Police will continue monitoring the university as the investigation continues, Polinar said.
He also urged the public not to spread false information that could cause unnecessary alarm or panic.
