ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Police Office has detained a minor from Fort San Pedro National High School after he was caught copying and modifying a bomb threat message that spread panic across multiple schools this week.

ICPO director Colonel Kim Legada confirmed Thursday that the teen was surrendered by his guardian to the Women and Children’s Protection Desk after classmates saw him editing the text of the hoax alert posted on social media and forwarding it to other campuses.

Initial findings point to a disturbing trend: the bomb threats that disrupted classes and triggered evacuations may not have been a coordinated attack—but a reckless chain of copycat messages.

Mayor Raisa Treñas slammed the pranksters, vowing full accountability for anyone who “dares to endanger students and tamper with school security.” She warned those planning similar stunts to “stop now before they destroy their future.”

With the student now in custody, investigators are tightening the probe to trace the source of the original threat and determine who else amplified the panic.