Supt. James Goforth, the police chief of Dumaguete, warned pranksters last week that they could be sued in court for causing public alarm and other violations if found guilty.
The police chief’s warning came following a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax at the Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative main office in Dumaguete on Monday morning.
Initial police investigation showed a NORECO 2 employee, Novem Orcullo, received a telephone call around 9:20 a.m. from an unidentified male caller who said in the Cebuano dialect that a bomb was planted on the ground floor and to inform the people about it, said Goforth.
The police, however, responded only around 10 a.m. after it took awhile for NORECO 2 to call them in as the woman allegedly became flustered after receiving the call, he added.
Aside from the city police, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics, the K-9 unit and the Explosives Ordnance Unit of the Philippine National Police arrived at the scene to do a “paneling” or security sweep of the building, the police chief said.
Also, rescue teams from the provincial government of Negros Oriental and the city government of Dumaguete were at the scene.
No indication whatsoever of an improvised explosive device was found, even though the people on the ground and second floors were told to evacuate.
Supt. Goforth explained there was no need to ask the other people on the higher floors to leave the building as police believed in the event of an IED explosion, the damage would be localized.
The motive for the prank call has yet to be determined as investigators are inquiring from electric cooperative officials for possible reasons for the false bomb threat.
Meanwhile, Supt. Goforth disclosed that police have found NORECO 2 security measures to be relaxed as he advised them to strengthen measures that would ensure the safety of employees and clients.
Among the recommendations the police chief made include the stringent inspection of bags prior to entry to the building and the installation of a caller ID telephone system.
With a caller ID system in place, it would be a lot easier for the police to trace the call and bring the prank caller to court, Goforth added. (PNA/JFP)
