FOLLOWING three consecutive security scares in Cebu City over the past several days, neighboring Talisay City suspended classes at two public schools on Monday, July 6.
It was learned that a netizen posted on social media a threat to bring a gun to a school campus, prompting a rapid law enforcement response and heightened security operations.
Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. condemned the threat, which came from a now-deleted Facebook post attributed to an account using the name “Zane Bacalso.”
The post allegedly contained threats of bringing a firearm to a school and included “condolence” messages directed at students.
The suspension covered Talisay City Elementary School and Talisay City National High School as authorities secured the campuses and launched an investigation into the source of the post.
Gullas said in a Facebook statement on Sunday, July 5, that he immediately coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) Talisay City Division and the Talisay City Police Station to implement security measures and verify the threat.
“These kinds of posts are never a joke and must always be treated as credible until proven otherwise,” Gullas said.
Law enforcement units, including a SWAT team, were deployed to reinforce security while investigators worked to trace the account behind the post.
Gullas also warned individuals using anonymous online identities that they remain accountable under the law.
“To anyone who thinks hiding behind a fake Facebook account makes you untouchable, ayaw mo’g salig nga lisod ka ma trace (don’t think that you are hard to trace),” he said.
The mayor also said that threats targeting schools, students, and teachers are treated as serious offenses and vowed firm action once suspects are identified.
“If the person behind this threat is identified, I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our city,” Gullas said.
At press time, authorities have not confirmed whether a suspect has been identified.
The incident came amid a series of security alerts in Cebu City over the past days.
Police, barangay officials, and school administrators previously tightened security at Inayawan National High School after another online shooting threat surfaced, prompting coordination with the Cebu City Police Office.
That case followed earlier false alarms involving a bomb threat at Ayala Malls Central Bloc and a separate shooting threat at Cebu Eastern College, all of which triggered emergency responses and investigations before being declared hoaxes or unverified reports.
Authorities have continued to urge the public to avoid sharing unverified information online and to report threats directly to law enforcement to prevent panic and unnecessary disruption.