‘Bomb scare’ disrupts ACT online classes
Online classes at Asian College of Technology (ACT) in Cebu City were disrupted Thursday afternoon after police operatives, some in full battle gear, and members of the bomb disposal unit arrived to check a suspicious baggage allegedly left at the vicinity of the school.
Police Major Kenneth Paul Albotra, Carbon police station chief, said they received a call from the Cebu City Tactical Operations Center (CTOC) about an “unattended baggage” at ACT, where Cebu City South District Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa also holds office. Abellanosa is the owner of the school.
Albotra said there was no specific area given to them where the suspicious baggage was found prompting them to search the entire building, including Abellanosa’s office.
“And it turned out wala man diay threat, so mao rana, ato ra sad gipasabot ang management sa ACT, nakasabot ra sad sila kay ang police moresponde ra gyud kung naay mga report nga ing-ani,” Albotra explained.
He said they will be extracting the number of the caller from the CTOC headquarters where the original call was allegedly received.
“Ang gisulti lang karon kay di na daw ma contact, mao nay sulti sa pag-check karon lang,” said Albotra.
Lt. Franklin Rosario, team leader of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), said the school management was surprised of their arrival since they did not report any bomb threat.
“Nagulat nalang sila ba nga naay Mobil hangtod nga gi-cordon sila,” said Rosario.
Erwin Verano, of ACT administration, said they do not know any possible worker or staff of the college who possibly called the CTOC to report.
“Diha pa mi kabalo nga naabot na ang police nga duna kunoy unattended baggage, nahibong lang mi ngano naabot,” Verano said.
“Kining mga tawhana gusto lang gyud mag samok-samok nga peaceful man kaayo ang eskwelahan, way laing gibuhat, ang online nga klase na interrupt,” he added.
The EOD declared the entire ACT building safe but the caller remains a mystery. The incident happened at the heels of the allegations that ACT is one of the venues used in the distribution of TUPAD benefits from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) allegedly to advance the political interest of a certain candidate. The allegation is now being looked into by the DOLE-7. —