By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The management of the Social Security System (SSS) said its branch on Lacson Street here is safe after a bomb scare on Tuesday.
The branch, headed by manager Lina Hilado, issued a statement on Wednesday assuring SSS members and employees of their safety as they immediately resumed operation after the police cleared the building of any explosive materials.
Personnel of Police Station 2 and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Bacolod City Police Office immediately responded after an employee received a text message from an anonymous sender, saying that a bomb has been planted in the building.
The employee, who got the message at 6:17 a.m., immediately relayed the information to the branch officials who coordinated with authorities.
Employees and members at the office were then instructed to leave the building.
The teams headed by Capt. Leo Estopa, chief of Police Station 2, and Chief Master Sgt. Erwin Villanueva of the SWAT team, searched the building along with a canine team led by Staff Sgt. Rommel Alog.
After a thorough search, the police declared the building cleared at 10:20 a.m.
The employees and members were then allowed to enter the building anew and the branch resumed its operation.
