Why are there bomb threats going around Manila schools?
Members of the police today found no signs of explosives after it searched the campus of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) on España Boulevard, Manila. The police arrived at the Catholic university after a bomb threat circulated via text message earlier this morning.
The text message was reposted on the Twitter account of newspaper Manila Bulletin, which read in Filipino: “Because we didn’t push through with our plan to bomb Mapua University yesterday, we will do it at UST Manila at 2pm in the afternoon, please pass this around. Long live the New People’s Army!”
The text message came from the Twitter account of student activist organization Anakbayan – UST. According to the group, the message started spreading at the school at around 8am today.
LOOK: The text message circulating around UST regarding the bomb threat | via @MBEderaErma pic.twitter.com/h6L1jYl6yt
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) September 19, 2018
The text message is referring to the bomb threat yesterday that hit Mapua University in Intramuros, just a 30-minute drive away from UST. According to ABS-CBN News, Mapua had to suspend classes because of the threat. The Philippine Daily Inquirer said the police didn’t find any explosives at Mapua’s campus.
The New People’s Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. According to GMA News, the text message that was circulated in UST was sent less than 24 hours after President Rodrigo Duterte said that the government is close to defeating the communist rebels.
Meanwhile, Anakbayan – UST blamed the government for the bomb threat.
A statement posted on their Twitter account read: “ANAKBAYAN-UST denounces this desperate attempt by the state and Duterte’s troll propaganda army to inflict an atmosphere of harassment and intimidation inside schools.”
CRACKDOWN ALERT!
ANAKBAYAN-UST denounces this desperate attempt by the state and Duterte’s troll propaganda army to inflict an atmosphere of harassment and intimidation inside schools.
At around 8am TODAY, a bomb threat is circulating inside the university. pic.twitter.com/C5dc7tnMAF
— Anakbayan – UST #EndStateFascism (@AnakbayanUST) September 19, 2018
The organization said the threat was also “used to justify the entry of police forces inside the campus premises and create more fear and intimidation to the UST community.”
Some students took the bomb scare seriously, such as @savtanai_.
there’s a fucking bomb threat here in ust n apparently it’s on our bldg omg
— formerly @imannaskie (@savtanai_) September 19, 2018
Netizen @kimhanbanana also seemed scared.
there’s a bomb threat here at ust (they said they’re going to plant the bomb in dapitan where my building is) sooo i don’t know if they’re gonna let us go home bc of this 😭
— a m a r a (@kimhanbanana) September 19, 2018
@BEY0NDJJK was equally frightened.
there’s a bomb threat circulating in our uni right now and i’m inside the university hngggg
play pray for us 😭 keep safe to my moots and nonmoots in UST !! https://t.co/qohFggcg9Z
— therese ♡ (@BEY0NDJJK) September 19, 2018
Wrote @JHNRMNTR in a mix of Filipino and English: “This UST bomb threat is not funny. I’m in class right now and I have (sic) this mini heart attack because I’m worried sick about my brother.”
Hindi nakakatuwa ‘tong UST bomb threat. Nasa klase ako and I have this mini heart attack because I’m worried sick about my brother. 😭😭😭
— Jhenaire Montero (@JHNRMNTR) September 19, 2018
Are you a student of Mapua or UST who was on school premises when the threats circulated? Let us know what happened by commenting below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
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