BOMB SCARE. A client (left) conducts a transaction as normal operations resume at the Zamboanga City Hall after a brief interruption due to a bomb scare Wednesday (June 14, 2023). The city police’s bomb squad conducted a search inside and outside the City Hall but found no explosives. (Photo courtesy of Zamboanga CIO)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – It's business as usual at the City Hall here after a bomb scare briefly interrupted its normal operations Wednesday.
The city police bomb squad conducted a search in the city hall and its premises but found no explosives except for a box containing bond papers and other trash found outside the building.
“Normal operations resumed after no bomb was found,” said Lt. Col. Paul Andrew Cortes, city police information officer.
Christopher Mandi, city security unit chief, assured that authorities are in control of the situatio while an investigation is ongoing to identify the caller.
At 8:42 a.m., the first bomb threat call was made to the hotline number of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the Pettit barracks.
All the employees were ordered to vacate their respective offices after another bomb threat was made through a phone call to the City Legal Office located at the main city hall building around 8:48 a.m.
A few minutes later, another call was made to the Office of the City Mayor.
After an inspection, security forces lifted the cordon around the city hall around 10 a.m., and normal operation resumed with the employees returning to their respective offices.
Mayor John Dalipe instructed the security forces to ensure the safety of the century-old building and the employees, including the transacting public.
Likewise, the mayor also ordered an in-depth investigation into the prank calls to determine the caller’s identity and location.
Mandi assured that strict security measures are in place at the city hall. (PNA)
