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Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Bomb threat disrupts work in city's courts
By Raquel C. Bagnol and Rex C. Otero
COURT employees and visitors alike scampered for safety from the Ninoy Aquino Hall of Justice on Monday after court employees received a bomb threat from a person who phoned them twice.
Necy Cahigas, an employee of the Public Attorney's Office, received the first call at 8 a.m. Cahigas said the male caller told her a bomb would explode in an hour.
A few minutes later, the office of Judge Virginia Europa of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 received a similar call.
Members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Satu) immediately responded, bringing with them K9 dogs that inspected every nook and cranny of the Hall of Justice.
"Negative. Wala talaga kaming na-recover," PO2 Alvin Laud of Satu said.
Investigation of those who answered the calls made police believe the call was made by one and the same person.
"Parang isang caller lang two times nagtawag," Laud said. He added that the man spoke in heavily accented Tagalog.
Executive Judge Paul Arcangel cancelled all the hearings scheduled for the day and sent the employees home for the rest of the day.
"Lalaki man to nga caller. Medyo dako ug tingog. Ingon siya nga baba na daw me kay may bomba gibutang sa Branch 11 ug sa PAO. Mobuto alas nuwebe (It was a male caller with a well-modulated voice. He told us to go out because there's a bomb at Branch 11 and at the PAO. The bombs are scheduled to go off at 9 a.m.)," Cahigas said.
She immediately reported the call to SPO2 Simon Lagura who is assigned at the entrance of the Justice Hall. Archangel ordered the employees to vacate the building immediately.
Cahigas said she went back to their office to get water at about 8:35 when the second call came. It was the same voice and the caller gave the same message, this time telling them to hurry up.
PAO director Ridgeway Tanjili said a prankster could have made the call or it could be a delaying tactic from someone who is facing a court case.
"The possibilities are endless. We handle all types of cases from all types of people. Who do you think would threaten us?" Tanjili asked.
Tanjili however did not dismiss the possibility that the bomb scare could have been a ploy to divert the attention of the authorities from a main target.
The Hall of Justice has had four prank calls that caused panic this year alone. Security is now tightened inside the premises as visibility of Task Force Davao members was heightened.
Peace and order has remained fragile following the two bombs that exploded outside the Davao International Airport and the Sasa wharf, leaving 39 people dead and wounding 100 others.
(June 10, 2003 issue)
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