San Fernando school receives online shooting threat; probe underway

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police are investigating an alleged online shooting threat sent to the official Facebook page of a public high school in San Fernando, Cebu, on Thursday, July 30, as authorities work to identify the person behind the message.

The San Fernando Municipal Police Station said it is coordinating with the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU)-7 to trace the source of the threatening message, which prompted heightened security measures at Sangat National High School in Barangay Sangat.

School shooting threat sent via Facebook

According to the police, the incident was reported to the San Fernando Municipal Police Station at around 9:30 a.m. after a school official informed authorities that the school had received a cyber threat from an unidentified sender.

Police immediately responded to the campus together with members of the station’s Intelligence Unit to investigate the report.

READ: School shooting threat raises alarm on Olango Island

Initial police probe showed that around 6:34 a.m., a Facebook account using the name “Ted Hermosa” allegedly sent a message to the Sangat NHS – Supreme Secondary Learner Government Facebook page.

Police said the sender claimed to be on the way to the school to carry out a shooting and said those who had already gone home were “lucky.”

Authorities have yet to determine whether the Facebook account belongs to the person responsible for sending the message.

School, police implement security measures

Before responding officers arrived, the school principal had already ordered precautionary security measures, including locking all classrooms and conducting bag inspections of students.

Upon arriving on campus, police also inspected students’ belongings and carried out a security sweep of the school premises to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.

Police did not report finding any immediate threat or suspicious items during the security inspection.

Investigation continues

As of Friday, July 31, the San Fernando Municipal Police Station said the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the identity of the individual behind the online threat.

Police said they are coordinating with RACU-7 as part of efforts to trace the source of the message and determine whether criminal charges may be filed once the sender is identified.

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