Student safety took precedence in Talisay City on Monday after Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. suspended classes in two schools sharing the same campus while authorities investigated an online post threatening a possible shooting.
Gullas ordered the suspension as a precaution after a now-deleted Facebook post, allegedly made by an account using the name “Zane Bacalso,” circulated online.
The post reportedly threatened to bring a firearm to school and included “condolence” messages directed at students, prompting concern among parents, school officials, and law enforcement authorities.
Instead of dismissing the post as an online prank, the city government immediately coordinated with the Talisay City Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the police to assess the situation and implement security measures.
Gullas said authorities agreed the threat should be treated as credible until proven otherwise.
“These kinds of posts are never a joke and must always be treated as credible until proven otherwise,” the mayor said.
The suspension initially covered Talisay City Elementary School and Talisay City National High School, which share the same campus.
“We will suspend all schools in the compound… Mas maka-lihok atong police if walay taw,” Gullas said in a follow-up post.
The mayor also warned those who believe they can evade accountability by using anonymous or fake social media accounts.
“To anyone who thinks hiding behind a fake Facebook account makes you untouchable, ayaw mo’g salig nga lisod ka ma-trace,” he said.
Gullas stressed that threats involving schools should never be taken lightly because they place the lives of students, teachers, and school personnel at risk.
“The safety of our children will always come first, and those responsible will be held fully accountable under the law,” he added.
To assist investigators, the mayor appealed to the public to preserve any screenshots of the deleted Facebook post, including its comments and reactions, saying these could help authorities reconstruct the online activity.
He also disclosed that investigators had already secured screenshots of the account’s list of friends as part of efforts to identify the individual behind the threat and determine whether others may have relevant information.
Gullas likewise urged anyone who personally knows the account owner to immediately coordinate with teachers, parents, or the police so authorities can verify information and continue the investigation.
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