PALO, Leyte — The Department of Education's Schools Division of Leyte (SDO Leyte) said Sunday that authorities have not verified the alleged threats against two public schools in Palo.

In a statement, SDO Leyte said it received reports of text messages circulating on social media claiming that Palo National High School and Palo I Central School could be the next targets of violence following the recent fatal shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City.

"There is no verified information confirming the credibility of these alleged threats," the division said, adding that it is treating all reports concerning the safety of learners, teachers and school personnel with utmost seriousness.

SDO Leyte said it has requested the Palo Municipal Police Station to increase police visibility and security in both schools. It also sought the assistance of barangay officials to strengthen community-based security measures and ensure a prompt response to any potential threat.

The division has likewise asked the National Bureau of Investigation to trace the individuals or social media accounts responsible for circulating the messages and determine their authenticity.

Earlier, Palo National High School said it had received two alleged threats over the weekend.

School officials said the matter has been reported to authorities for investigation, including efforts to identify the Facebook and Messenger accounts involved.

The school also warned social media users that online threats can be traced by law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, through digital records such as recovery emails, linked phone numbers and two-factor authentication logs.

Meanwhile, SDO Leyte urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

"We strongly encourage everyone to refrain from spreading unverified reports that may cause unnecessary fear and anxiety. Any information related to security threats should be immediately reported to school authorities or law enforcement agencies for proper verification and appropriate action," the division said.