UP Baguio bomb scare turns out to be hoax; officials condemn ‘senseless act’

Baguio City, Philippines – In the middle of regular campus hours at University of the Philippines Baguio on Wednesday, March 11, the university community was rattled by bomb threats that later turned out to be a hoax.

At around 12:15 p.m., students, faculty members, and staff were evacuated to the Oblation Grounds after a student organization and several faculty members received emails threatening to bomb the university.

UP Baguio immediately suspended afternoon classes the same day to allow the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group (PNP EOD/K9) to conduct sweep and paneling operations across the campus to verify the threat and ensure the safety of the university community.

At around 2:00 p.m. on March 11, the PNP EOD/K9 declared an “all-clear”, confirming that the threat was false after no explosives or destructive devices were found on campus.

In a statement released by UP Baguio through the Office of the Chancellor on March 12, the university said it immediately convened with BCPO and the PNP EOD/K9 following the incident. One of the key points discussed was the further investigation of the bomb threat and the possible criminal prosecution of those responsible for sending the emails.

The university and authorities emphasized that if the threat was indeed the product of “an individual’s or a group’s malevolent mind,” it could have caused serious consequences, including panic-induced stampedes or severe psychological distress among members of the university community.

Meanwhile, UP Baguio resumed classes on March 12. Students affected by the incident were encouraged to seek assistance from the Office of Counseling and Guidance or the Health Services Office.

“The ‘terrorists’ are not us but those who perpetuate these senseless acts. Therefore, we should not let them win by further disrupting our lives. We should ‘push on, UP,’ and as we often say, ‘Padayon,’” the Office of the Chancellor said.