UP Diliman students evacuate 2 school buildings after alleged threat

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Students, faculty, and staff at two school buildings in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus in Quezon City were evacuated Thursday afternoon due to an alleged security threat.

According to a report by Tinig ng Plaridel, the student publication in UP Diliman College of Mass Communication, evacuation measures were implemented at Palma Hall and Malcolm Hall.

Images posted by Tinig ng Plaridel showed police responders clad in black combat gear speaking with a security guard on the Palma Hall steps.

A vehicle of the Quezon City (QC) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) was parked nearby as students walked down the stairs.

The report quoted the UP Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) as confirming the presence of personnel from QC DRRMO and the QC Police District's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to investigate the incident.

Youscooper Dawson Quiambao documented the exit of students at Palma Hall past 2 p.m.

According to a report by Isa Avendano-Umali on Super Radyo dzBB, a threat was posted on social media, which stated: "Maghahasik ng lagim sa buong Palma at Malcolm. Humanda kayong lahat."

(Horror will be unleashed all over Palma and Malcom. All of you be ready.)

Palma Hall, also known the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), is a major convergence point in the UP Diliman campus as courses of various disciplines are taught there.

On the other hand, Malcolm Hall is the UP College of Law.

The radio report added that the QCPD Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and school officials immediately responded by initiating inspections and safety procedures.

Authorities did not find any suspicious or hazardous items, the report said.

The QCPD was quoted as saying that investigation was still ongoing. The situation in the two buildings went back to normal as of posting time.

GMA News Online's calls to OVCCA phone numbers were unanswered. GMA News Online likewise reached out to the QC DRRMO but it has yet to respond as of this post. For its part, the QCPD said it would issue a statement at a later time. — VDV, GMA News