A BOMB threat halted the operation of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) on San Juan Street near noontime Friday.
Senior Inspector Richard Fajarito, chief of Police Station 1, said a female employee of Baciwa received a call at around 11:57 a.m. from an unidentified man, who said that a bomb has been planted inside the Baciwa compound.
Customer service clerk Ma. Corazon de los Santos answered the call from a male caller with a Muslim accent, who said “Assalamu alaikum. May bomba diyan, may bomba diyan. Sasabog diyan within 30 seconds. Umalis na kayo ng office.”
The employees then told the security chief about the call as well as Baciwa general manager Mario Macatangay who instructed them to seek police assistance.
The Bacolod City Police Office deployed its Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team, and Explosives and Ordnance Disposal personnel.
The Philippine Coast Guard also dispatched its canine unit to assist the policemen.
Fajarito said the Baciwa management advised its personnel to vacate the compound.
After three hours of search, the police declared the area negative of bomb.
“It was purely a prank call,” Fajarito said.
He said he believes that the caller wants to sabotage the operation of Baciwa.
In February this year, a bank in downtown Bacolod also received a bomb threat from an unidentified caller.