Ateneo bomb threat a hoax – police

The bomb threat that forced the administration of the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City to suspend afternoon classes and office work on Wednesday turned out to be a hoax, police said.

According to the Guidon, ADMU's official student newspaper, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) ruled the bomb threat a hoax after bomb experts, aided by bomb-sniffing dogs, searched the entire campus for hours.

QCPD Chief Supt. Richard Albano says bomb threat was a hoax. Investigation ongoing re: identity and motive of person who sent threat.

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) February 12, 2014

A report on “Balita Pilipinas” said three employees received text messages at 9:45 a.m. warning them that a bomb will go off within the campus within 30 minutes. Only one phone number was used in sending the messages.

Via QCPD: The threat texted to Ateneo employees this morning. pic.twitter.com/ep29d5NJhA

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) February 12, 2014

School officials then called the QCPD at 10:50 a.m., according to a police officer in Kampo Karingal. He said Station 9's commander Richard Fiesta led a bomb squad into the school at 11 a.m., one hour before students were evacuated.

Meanwhile, the administration of ADMU will hold a press conference with members from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) at the campus' Faber Hall late Wednesday afternoon.

Fr. Villarin and other administrators will hold a press conference at Faber Hall in a few minutes.

— The GUIDON (@TheGUIDON) February 12, 2014

The “Balita Pilipinas” report said only a few students remained inside the campus early afternoon, and most bus services have left with their charges.

Traffic, however, was still heavy on Katipunan, with fetchers and respondents congesting the road starting at the Katipunan flyover. Dormers inside the campus stayed inside the Church of The Gesu until the campus was cleared by the QCPD.

ADMU President Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin released a statement Wednesday afternoon thanking the respondent police units for their "timely response to this threat."

"Classes resume tomorrow. Please expect tighter security measures after this incident," read the statement.

Students and staff members who left their belongings may come back to the campus at 5 p.m. to retrieve their belongings. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News