The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR), through the San Carlos Police Station, launched immediate security inspections on Saturday afternoon, July 11, following an online bomb threat targeting multiple local establishments.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. personnel from the San Carlos Police Station, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) San Carlos Canine Unit, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) conducted bomb detection paneling operations at three locations:
San Carlos City Auditorium in Barangay 4
VIAST Outsource Solutions along East Carmona Street, Barangay 4
Empire One BPO along Eco Translink Highway, Barangay 2
The joint security operation was triggered after authorities monitored a post in the public Facebook group “6127 Marketplace San Carlos City.”
The post, uploaded by an account under the name “Jim San,” threatened to plant bombs in local schools and other establishments, explicitly naming Empire One BPO and an ongoing job fair.
The PCG deployed one bomb detection canine to assist teams in sweeping the identified areas.
Following thorough security checks, authorities confirmed that no explosives or suspicious items were found, yielding negative results at all inspected sites, the police said.
In the wake of the sweep, police officers advised the management and staff of Empire One BPO and the other affected establishments to maintain vigilance.
Authorities instructed them to immediately report any suspicious individuals, unattended packages, or unusual activities to the nearest police station or via the 911 emergency hotline.
The San Carlos Police Station is currently coordinating with the PRO NIR Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit to trace and identify the individual behind the “Jim San” Facebook account.
Investigation and coordination with partner agencies is ongoing, the police said
PRO NIR issued a reminder to the public that issuing bomb threats is a serious offense under Philippine law, and individuals making false threats online or through other platforms will face criminal charges.
The regional office urged the public to act responsibly online and to report suspicious posts directly to law enforcement for verification rather than spreading them.
“The immediate response of our personnel and partner agencies reflects our commitment to ensuring public safety,” said PBrig. Gen. Romano V. Cardiño, PRO NIR regional director.
“While the inspection yielded negative results, we treat every reported threat with utmost seriousness,” he said.
“We assure the public that PRO NIR remains vigilant and is working closely with our cybercrime investigators to identify the person responsible for this alarming social media post. We also urge everyone to remain calm, stay alert, and refrain from sharing unverified information that may cause unnecessary fear or panic, “ he added.*
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