Bomb threat on 2 malls a hoax, says ICPO chief
Text messages spreading yesterday about the alleged plan of the New People's Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), to bomb two malls in Iloilo City was nothing but a hoax.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) OIC Director Bartolome Tobias said mall employees as well as mallgoers need not worry as the information could only be a destabilization plot from certain individuals who have nothing to do in their lives.
Nevertheless, Tobias said, they are verifying the text information as they also intensify police security in public places.
The security agencies of the two malls have also been ordered to exercise tight security rules just to be sure. Tobias, however, could not pinpoint the source of the text message.
Tobias said, based on experience the NPA will not execute such bombing plan considering the volume of the civilians inside the two malls.
They have no motive to harm the people who are enjoying inside the mall, he said.
Incidentally, the operations of the two malls yesterday was normal.
An unimpeachable source said the spreading of text messages regarding the alleged bombing is not new anymore. "The same tactic also happened sometime in April and July of this this year," the source said.
The source added that though the information is a hoax, others may take advantage of the situation then put the blame on the NPA.