All afternoon classes at the City of Malabon University (CMU) were immediately suspended after the administration received an email containing a bomb threat.
At around 10 AM on Monday, April 21, the CMU said they received an email threatening the safety of students and personnel. In response, the administration decided to suspend all afternoon classes, effective immediately.
“This decision was not taken lightly. A thorough risk assessment, conducted in consultation with local law enforcement agencies, indicated that the threat warranted immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on campus. The suspension of classes allows for a controlled and orderly evacuation of the campus, facilitating a comprehensive search and investigation,” CMU wrote in a statement.
Moreover, local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the origin and nature of the threat. The university is also cooperating with law enforcement to identify the individual or individuals who caused the incident.
According to the statement, the investigation includes a comprehensive search of the campus and an analysis of digital evidence. Their security personnel are also actively working to enhance security measures across the campus.
“We understand that this disruption to the academic schedule may cause inconvenience. However, we believe that the safety and security of our community must take precedence over all other considerations,” they wrote.”We will continue to provide regular updates on the situation through official university channels, including email, text message alerts, and our website. We urge all members of the CMU community to remain calm and follow any instructions provided by university officials and law enforcement.”
“We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our students, faculty, staff, and their families during this challenging time. We remain committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment and will continue to work diligently to address this situation and prevent future incidents,” they continued.
According to RH 23 Edwin Duque’s report, authorities traced the source of the email to Ilocos Sur. It was initially received by a former student of the university, who then forwarded it to the school’s program chair.
The Malabon Philippine National Police (PNP) quickly responded to the incident. However, Malabon PNP Chief PCol. Jay Baybayan said that upon inspection, no explosives were found inside the campus.
MCU said it will provide updates as new information becomes available. In the meantime, the university urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to school officials or local law enforcement.
