Pampanga State U graduation marred by bomb threat

BACOLOR, Pampanga — A bomb threat sent via social media prompted Pampanga State University (PSU) officials to cancel graduation ceremonies and evacuate the campus Thursday.

The university was set to host its graduation rites at 2 p.m. when a message from a Facebook account with the user name “Robb Ind” was discovered around 11 a.m. The message said a bomb was inside the school and would detonate later in the day.

The message read, “There is a bomb planted inside the school. This will go off at any hour today. Nobody will survive. This is not a joke. Time is running out. The bomb is a little boy.”

The phrase “a little boy” is a reference to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Dozens of students, parents and faculty members were already on campus. More than 200 people were evacuated by campus security and police.

Officials said the event was expected to host more than 2,000 attendees, including 1,105 graduating students and their families.

“As a graduate, this was supposed to be a special day for me and my parents,” Marlon Santos, a psychology graduate, said. “But I have to admit, I got scared.”

Screenshots of student conversations obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE showed a range of reactions, from panic to humor. The university’s graduation ceremonies have been postponed indefinitely.

Following a sweep of the campus, the bomb squad declared the area safe a few hours later. PSU officials said the threat came from a hacked student profile.

Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc-Sagum was set to deliver the commencement address and condemned the threat. She has vowed to support the affected families.