City tightens security following online threat

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has ordered the full mobilization of offices to assist Abellana National School and the Department of Education after a student account posted threats of bombing and stabbing against classmates online late in the evening of August 6, 2026.

The directive places the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Cebu City Police Office, and other agencies in active coordination with DepEd while the investigation continues, stressing the city’s determination to treat the incident as a matter of public safety rather than an isolated school concern.

The threats, written in Cebuano, included “pabuthon ko nang skwelahan ninyo” (“I will blow up your school”) and “DUNGABON TAMO IGKA BIYERNES PAG BANTAY LANG MO” (“I will stab you this Friday, watch out”), and were directed at specific Grade 9 student groups.

The school administration immediately suspended face-to-face classes and shifted to modular distance learning yesterday, August 7, to clear the campus and minimize risk.

Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal and K9 units were deployed to sweep the premises, while the Anti-Cybercrime Group began tracing the origin of the online account where the threat was posted.

The Child Protection Committee convened with parents, guardians, and the Women and Children Protection Desk to address the psychosocial impact on students.

Archival’s directive comes at a time when Cebu schools have faced a series of similar threats.

Just days earlier, some schools from mountain barangays in the city were forced to halt classes after bomb and shooting threats circulated online.

Consolacion town also halted in-person learning in five schools following comparable hoaxes.

Police investigations have pointed to minors misusing social media platforms, with fraternity-related activities also being considered as possible links.