Saturday, November 10, 2007 Bomb threat mars events at Angeles City council By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES CITY - A bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax, has spoiled the oath taking ceremonies of newly-elected village officials as well as the slated "Ulat sa Bayan" by members of the City Council Friday.
A prankster phoned the Assessor's Office at around 9:50 a.m. Friday and warned that a bomb was placed somewhere in the City Hall.
Hazel de Dios Pasamonte, an employee assigned at the assessor's office, told Sun.Star Pampanga that the male caller stated "seryoso ako magkakaroon ng pagsabog sa City Hall.
Another phone call was received by Pasamonte's co-employee, Beth Carlos, few minutes later. The caller reiterated that a bomb was planted inside the building and quoted "seryoso ito marami ang masasaktan."
Members of the City Police Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) and Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) arrived at the City Hall shortly after the phone call and started clearing the building using bomb-sniffing dogs.
Officials including Congressman Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega and others; employees; and other people were directed to vacate the building.
But policemen found no bomb after the clearing operation.
A source said the bomb threat was part of a drill. Pasamonte said they were informed earlier that there will be a drill during the next few days.
But police officials belied reports saying the incident was a bomb threat drill.
"It is for real. It is not a bomb threat drill. Ipinaalam lang naming sa mga tao at empleyado na drill yun para hindi sila mag-panic sa kanilang paglabas sa building at masaktan," said Superintendent Eduardo Tuazon Jr, head of the City Mobile Group.
Lazatin said the incident might be a handiwork of individuals out to disrupt the oath taking of the barangay officials and the report to the people of the council members.
Lazatin did not categorically say that Mayor Francis "Blueboy" Nepomuceno had something to do with the bomb threat but hinted that those responsible for it might be the latter's allies.
"Mangulu la mu reta. Pero ena la man menagumpe uling mituluy mu rin ing oath taking. Mekapagsalita ku naman kaybat dang sinumpa reng barangay officials," Lazatin said.
Vega denounced the bomb threat saying it is meant to sabotage the oath taking ceremonies and the city council's supposed report to the people.
"I was shocked by the level of politics of some camps. They resorted to these type of harassment just to scare and prevent us from presenting the legislative agenda.To sacrifice the safety of the people is a different story. The people should know that they have a working City Council," Vega said.
Mark Allen Sison, Nepomuceno's chief of staff, belied claims that their camp is responsible for the incident. "Just another cheap imaginative idea of our political rivals," he said.
