Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla has called on the public to immediately report any threats of violence or suspicious online discussions through the government’s Unified 911 hotline, following the rapid police response to an alleged school attack threat in Tolosa, Leyte.
Remulla said the quick action of law enforcement helped prevent the situation from escalating, after authorities moved to verify and neutralize a reported online threat involving students of Tolosa National High School.
He made the appeal amid growing concern over digitally circulated messages warning of possible violent incidents in schools.
“Ito po ay panawagan ko sa lahat ng netizens natin. Kung may makita kayong kahit anong threat, imminent threat, or chatter in group discussions involving mass violence, please call 911 immediately,” Remulla said.
Authorities earlier responded to a social media post that allegedly referenced a planned attack targeting the school, prompting concern among students, parents, and school officials.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) later traced the post to a 14-year-old Grade 10 student from the same school who reportedly used multiple accounts to circulate the message. Investigators said the threat was later deemed neutralized after confirming there was no organized plan, no accomplices, and no access to firearms.
Remulla stressed that all reported threats must be treated as active until proven otherwise, underscoring the importance of immediate reporting and verification.
“Any threat is considered live until it is neutralized,” he said.
He urged the public to report even unverified or partial information that may indicate potential harm, saying early notification allows authorities to intervene before situations escalate.
“Basta may makita kayong kahit konting babala, tumawag agad sa 911 para maimbestigahan,” he added.
The DILG chief also pointed to the importance of heightened vigilance following the recent school shooting incident in Tacloban City, noting that similar warnings should be treated with urgency to prevent repetition.
Remulla likewise acknowledged Senator Bam Aquino for promptly alerting authorities about the reported online threat, allowing law enforcement to act quickly and verify the situation.