Report: Bomb scare hits QC Hall of Justice

The police on Monday cordoned off the parking lot of the Quezon City (QC) Hall of Justice after receiving information that a bomb was placed under a yellow car, radio dzBB reported. Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus said a bomb-sniffing dog initially stopped beside a BMW vehicle, an indication that a bomb could be located inside the car. However, after inspection, no bomb was found inside the vehicle. The bomb scare at the QC Hall of Justice was the latest false threat received by authorities after the Makati City bus bombing where five people were killed on January 25. The Philippine National Police (PNP) advised the public to report people passing on false rumors of bomb threats to Hotline 117 or PNP Text 0917-847-5757. The Metro Manila police are also seeking help from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to put a stop to the false bomb threats. Radio dzBB’s Denver Trinidad reported on Tuesday Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome said the NTC can help trace the source of the prank calls. Bartolome said they can no longer afford to treat the prank calls lightly, especially after they had to respond to at least four bomb scares Monday. The police on Monday responded to bomb threats at Assumption College in Makati City; Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, and Miriam College in Quezon City. All the threats turned out negative but Assumption College was forced to suspend classes for the day. A separate report on dzRH radio said an unidentified man called up the Pag-IBIG office in Makati City to claim a bomb was hidden there. The threat also turned out negative. The incidents prompted Malacañang to warn the public against making prank calls. On Monday, Malacañang Palace said "bomb threat pranksters" or people giving fake bomb threats will be dealt with severely. – VVP, GMANews.TV