Bomb threat disrupts SM Baguio City operations

MANILA, Philippines - A bomb threat made by a caller Sunday night disrupted operations at a giant mall in Baguio City until noon of Monday, a radio report said early Tuesday. Radio dwIZ reported that police are now coordinating with the cell phone network provider to trace the caller who made the bomb threat Sunday night. Police are looking into the possibility that disgruntled employees may have been involved, as the caller knew the cell phone number of building administrative officer Mark Abad. Initial investigation showed a male made a cellular phone call to Abad Sunday night and told him bombs were planted at the SM Baguio City. The report said the caller even asked for P850,000 then later bumped it up to P1.5 million. Mall management informed police, whose Explosives and Ordnance Division operatives spent 15 hours looking for bombs at the mall. While the search was ongoing, customers were barred from entering the mall while employees were frisked. Operations resumed at noon Monday after police found near the supermarket area a gift-wrapped box with a battery and wires but without explosives. - GMANews.TV