Iloilo City student under police custody for alleged sharing of bomb threat messages

A student of Fort San Pedro National High School in Iloilo City was taken into police custody after a classmate allegedly caught the former in the act of passing around bomb threat messages.

Iloilo City Police confirmed that the student was under the custody of the Iloilo City Police Office-Women and Children Protection Desk on November 20, 2025, and has undergone interrogation.

Information rendered that the student went sharing bomb threat messages using a personal social media account, the reason for the immediate identification.

Investigation has delved into the possible connection of the student to the series of bomb threats in the city.

On November 19, 2025, the said school received a bomb threat.

The police have yet to establish if the student has accomplices in the circulation of bomb threats.

Reward money up

The reward money offered for accurate information on the identity of the culprit, or group of culprits, behind the series of bomb threats in Iloilo City and the province has reached P200,000.

After the Iloilo City Government earlier offered P100,000, the Iloilo Provincial Government followed suit.

"Like the city, it's going to be 100,000 (pesos) for any useful information that will lead to something concrete," said Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

The series of bomb threats has continued. On November 20, 2025, a few schools in Iloilo City received the bomb threat.

Defensor met with the military, the police, and other government agencies on November 19, 2025. He said he was optimistic that the culprits will be identified.

"Nagna-narrow down ang possibilities ng pinagmulan nito. It needs a little time, it's progressing, and we will hit the mark," Defensor said.

Among the victims of these bomb threats are public schools. The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has condemned the series of bomb threats for possible ill effects to teachers and students. The agency is set to facilitate interventions.

"We will be providing a psychological first aid sa ating mga kabataan at personnel kasi, you know, everytime na may katulad nitong threat, it will really affect sa kanilang mental health status," Hernani Escullar, DepEd 6 spokesperson, said.

Moreover, West Visayas State University (WVSU) Himamaylan campus in Barangay Caradio-an received a bomb threat past 9 p.m. on November 19, 2025.

A teacher received the bomb threat online. The social media account of the sender was already traced.

"Nakatanggap sya ng message na nagsasabing may itinanim sa part na 'yan ng school. Actually, dalawang building ang na-mention sa message. Iisa lang ang nakatanggap," said Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Grande, chief of Himamaylan City Police Station.

In Kabankalan City, a university received a bomb threat.

According to the police, both schools in Negros Occidental were cleared by the Explosives and Ordnance Division.

House privilege speech

"Bomb threats are not jokes. They are crimes. Hindi lang ito nakakapag-antala ng klase, sinisira nito ang tiwala sa awtoridad at nagpapahirap sa buong komunidad," said Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin in her privilege speech.

Garin delivered a privilege speech at the House of Representatives on November 18, 2025,  warning perpetrators of bomb threats.

Garin called on authorities to make the identification of the culprits urgent, as the series of bomb threats has already brought trouble, inconvenience, and distress especially in the education sector in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Antique, and Guimaras recently.

Governor Defensor, Jr. said the matter is being taken seriously by the province.

"Seryoso ang bagay na ito, may mga batas tayo that together with the other agencies, we will investigate. Maayos na pagkuha ng ebidensya at kung mailagay sa tama ang ebidensya, maayos ang maisasampa nating kaso. Seryoso ang bagay na ito and we will pursue this upang hindi na magpatuloy," Defensor stressed.

From evening of November 18, 2025 to November 19, five schools in the Provinces of Iloilo, Antique, and Guimaras received bomb threats. These are the Iloilo National High School, St. Robert's International Academy, West Visayas State University - Lambunao campus, University of Antique, and Remedios E. Vilches National High School.

Based on data from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), a total of 29 bomb threats were received by 15 colleges and high schools in Iloilo City in 2025. In 2024, there were only three bomb threats.

ICPO said they are doing the best they could, but tracking down the culprits is quite challenging. It was pointed out there is a huge possibility that students are behind the series of bomb threats.

"We have a historical incident with regards to that na meron sa ISAT U [Iloilo Science and Technology University] last year na nakasuhang estudyante. Most probably ang gumagawa is mga estudyante. But we have to consider also other possibilities," Colonel Kim Legada, ICPO director, said.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 6 has warned the culprits. Aside from a case for violation of Presidential Decree 1727 which comes with five-year imprisonment and P40,000 fine, the perpetrators can also be charged for violation of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 with stiffer penalties.

"Under Section 6 ng naturang law, if you commit a crime whether it's punishable by the Revised Penal Code or special law, ang penalty na i-impose sa accused is higher by one degree. Depende naman kung ilang counts ang ginawa nya," said Atty. Arnold Diaz, NBI 6 assistant director.

According to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) 6, they already received a request from the police to help in the investigation. However, NTC 6 is limited to threats done using Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

"Whatever information na kailangan ng assistance ng ating investigating authorities especially coming from PNP, RACU, NBI, we immediately endorsed that to the respective telecommunication providers," Atty. Deo Virgil Tan, legal officer of NTC 6, said. — via Julius Belaca-ol, Kim Salinas/ GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas/ GMA Regional TV