Bomb threats hit QC hall of justice and main Comelec office

By Ronron
February 27, 2008

A series of bomb threats was received by the Quezon City Hall of Justice and the main Commission on Election (Comelec) office in Manila City on Wednesday, officials said.

All turned out to be hoax after policemen and security personnel conducted clearing operations.

The first threat was made at around 8:15 am at Branch 39 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, said Quezon City Police Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) head Insp. Arnulfo Franco.

Branch 39 is located at the third floor of the QC Hall of Justice, which is beside the QC Hall.

In a phone interview, Franco said the caller had a female sound and said that there is a bomb inside the courtroom that will explode before 12 noon.

The second call was made at around 9:40 am at Branch 406 on the fourth floor, believed to be by the same caller.

After sweeping operations by the canines of the internal security and the EOD personnel, the entire building was declared bomb-free at around 10 am, Franco said.

He said the bomb threat prompted some people to leave the building in an orderly manner.

"Maybe, these are just people who want to delay some court hearings," Franco said when asked of the possible motive of the caller.

At the Comelec Office, the first bomb threat was received at 10:55 am at the Education and Information Division (EID), which holds office outside of the Palacio del Gobernador on General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila City.

EID Director James Jimenez said in a separate phone interview that the caller, who had a male-sounding voice, claimed that the Palacio del Gobernador will be blown up at around 11 am.

A few moments later, the perceived similar caller called up another phone line at the EID and bad-mouthed the Comelec employee who received it.

Then, at around 11:05 am, the perceived similar caller made a final call at the same phone line and issued the same threat on blowing up the Palacio del Gobernador.

Upon learning about the calls, the occupants of the building "went out peacefully," and the inherent police personnel and private security proceeded to scour the entire edifice, Jimenez said.

"It was declared negative at around 1:30 pm and then the people started going back," he said.

Jimenez said the "most probable cause" of the bomb threat is the "existing activities at the Comelec such as election recounts or revisions."

"Some partisan groups could have gotten hot under the collar," he said, adding this "is not a novel thing" to the agency already./DMS