Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) head Councilor Dave Tumulak has urged the public to immediately report bomb threats to authorities instead of circulating them on social media, warning that online posts can trigger panic and disrupt emergency response operations.
Tumulak said authorities treat every reported threat as serious and respond with full emergency protocols, regardless of whether the information later turns out to be false.
“Every report that reaches us is considered serious. We cannot afford to ignore any threat because public safety is at stake,” Tumulak said in Cebuano in a video statement released following a bomb threat incident at a mall in Cebu IT Park.
He said the Friday incident, which stemmed from a message sent to a mall employee, prompted immediate coordination between mall security and the Cebu City Government, leading to the deployment of police officers, bomb disposal units, firefighters, disaster responders, and other emergency personnel.
According to Tumulak, responders conducted thorough inspections of the mall and nearby structures from mid-afternoon until evening to ensure the area was safe and free of any explosive device.
He said the operation required significant government resources and caused disruption to businesses, employees, shoppers, and nearby establishments, while also triggering anxiety among families trying to contact loved ones inside the area.
“Many families became anxious after learning about the report. They kept calling their loved ones who were either working or inside the mall. Many people were alarmed,” he said.
Tumulak emphasized that authorities cannot immediately determine whether a threat is genuine or a hoax, which is why full response protocols are always activated.
He reiterated his appeal for the public to report threats directly to law enforcement or government hotlines rather than posting them online.
“If the threat is real, don’t post it on social media first,” he said.
“Report it immediately to the nearest law enforcement agency, government office, or anyone who can directly relay the information to the police.”
He said direct reporting allows authorities to quickly verify information, identify sources, and deploy appropriate emergency measures without causing unnecessary public panic.
Tumulak also cautioned the public against livestreaming or posting real-time updates during active security operations, saying this could compromise coordination among responders.
He said excessive mobile data usage in the area of an ongoing emergency may also slow down communication among deployed teams.
“The more people using their mobile data, the longer it takes for responders to receive important messages and operational updates,” he said.
He added that real-time social media posts could inadvertently reveal responder positions and actions to individuals who may be responsible for threats.
“If the threat were real, those behind it could monitor social media and see that responders have already arrived,” he said.
The CCDRRMC head also discouraged the public from going to emergency sites out of curiosity, noting that Friday’s incident already caused traffic congestion as people gathered near the mall.
He said such congestion could delay ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, and rescue teams in the event of a real emergency.
While acknowledging that some threats may turn out to be false, Tumulak stressed that authorities must treat all reports as credible until proven otherwise.
He warned that individuals who intentionally spread false bomb threats could face criminal charges once identified.
“Authorities will eventually find out who you are, and there are laws that impose penalties on those responsible for these kinds of acts,” he said.
Tumulak made the appeal following a bomb threat incident at a mall in Cebu IT Park on Friday that prompted hours of clearing operations involving the Philippine National Police, SWAT teams, K-9 units, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, barangay responders, and mall security personnel.
Authorities later declared the area safe after no explosive device was found.
Screengrab from Tumulak / FB video
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