By Gabriela Baron
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, Nov. 8, appealed to the public to stop spreading unverified news on social media.
This after afternoon classes in a school in Taguig were suspended on Monday, Nov. 7, due to a bomb threat.
DepEd said the bomb threat was posted on Facebook by a dummy account on Monday.
The threat, DepEd said, caused fear and panic to school personnel, students, and parents which led to the suspension of classes in EM’s Signal Village Elementary School and Signal Village National High School.
“We appeal to everyone to stop spreading unverified news and messages through social media that may cause undue fear and panic to the public,” DepEd said.
“School personnel, students, and parents are advised to remain calm and follow school security protocols. Everybody should be vigilant and immediately report any untoward incident to authorities,” it added.
DepEd said it already coordinated with the Division of Taguig and Pateros.
“[The DepEd] was informed that the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team together with the Taguig City Public Order and Safety Office have already conducted a thorough search within the school vicinity of Signal Village National High School and EM’s Signal Village Elementary School,” the agency said.
PNP declared both schools “safe and bomb-free.”
“We will continuously coordinate with local authorities to find out and penalize the perpetrator/s of this bomb threat,” DepEd said. -ag