Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival on Thursday urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media following a security incident involving Cebu Eastern College (CEC) in Barangay Pahina Central.
The appeal came after authorities clarified that an initial report of a bomb threat was later determined to be an alleged school shooting threat posted online.
Archival said the Cebu City Government immediately coordinated with law enforcement agencies after receiving the report and activated security protocols to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and school personnel.
“Earlier today, an initial report of a bomb threat in a school in Cebu City was immediately verified by our authorities. It was later confirmed that the incident involved a reported shooting threat through a Facebook post, not a bomb threat,” Archival said in an official statement.
He urged the public to remain calm and rely only on verified advisories from authorities.
“Atong hangyoon ang tanan nga magpabiling kalmado, likayan ang pagpakaylap og unverified information, ug mosalig lamang sa official advisories gikan sa atong mga awtoridad. Padayon kitang magtinabangay aron mapreserbar ang kaluwasan sa atong komunidad.”
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) said authorities initially received information about a possible bomb threat at around 10 a.m.
However, validation with school officials and responding units confirmed that the report involved an alleged shooting threat posted on Facebook and directed at Cebu Eastern College.
Police units, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), barangay responders, and school administrators immediately secured the campus and conducted a threat assessment.
Authorities later found no suspicious items or indications of an imminent danger, allowing normal operations to resume after the school was declared safe.
In a statement, Cebu Eastern College assured parents, students, employees, and stakeholders that everyone on campus remained safe during the incident.
The school said it is coordinating with law enforcement agencies as investigations continue, while also strengthening its internal security measures.
CEC also expressed appreciation to responding units, including the SWAT team, CCDRRMO, Carbon Police Station 5, EOD team, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Tactical Motorcycle Riding Unit (TRU), barangay responders, and other agencies for their immediate response.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy city director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said investigators are now working to identify and locate the individual behind the social media post.
Oriol warned that appropriate charges will be filed against those responsible for issuing or spreading threats involving schools.
He also cautioned the public against sharing similar posts that could trigger panic or unnecessary alarm.
Police reminded the public that making threats against schools, including those posted online, is a serious offense and urged citizens to report suspicious content directly to authorities while the investigation continues.
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