“Bomb alert! Evacuate now!

This is the message received by several students and school officials of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Iloilo City campus dawn on October 2, 2025.

The message was from an alleged hacked social media account of a Grade 12 student of the said school sent using a foreign language.

According to university officials, the student could not access her social media account since October 1, 2025.

“Five o’clock in the morning I checked on her account and a few minutes later, pagkatingin ko, may lumabas na message sa akin. Tinranslate ko, Bomb alert (ang lumabas)! Get out now! Naalarma kaming lahat,” Professor Edelia Braga, principal of UPV-Iloilo High School, said.

Classes were suspended immediately.

Occupants of a dormitory inside the campus were directed to vacate the facility, as well as students and personnel of the College of Management.

“This is a serious issue and the administration acted on it by asking for the help of the proper authorities para ma-clear ang area. We will also extend help sa ating Grade 12 student na na-hack ang account to clear also her name,” Braga said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) cleared the university past 2 p.m., as no bomb was found.  

"Awa ng Diyos cleared out naman namin ang area. Sa High School Department doon lang naka-focus din. Mabuti na lang at may ginawang mabilisang aksyon ang mga taga-UP,” Lt. Christopher Mercaral, Iloilo City EOD team leader.

Students, dormitory occupants, as well as construction workers of an in-campus project were allowed to go back to their respective classes and work.

The university will coordinate with the Cybercrime Division of the Police Regional Office 6 to help establish the identity of the hacker.