ILOILO City — Police are investigating a threatening message sent via TikTok warning of a possible attack on pupils of Pototan Pilot Elementary School in Pototan, Iloilo, prompting authorities to coordinate with school officials and launch cyber investigations.
According to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), an 11-year-old pupil, accompanied by her mother, reported the incident to the Pototan Municipal Police Station at around 9:40 a.m. on Thursday, July 30.
The minor told investigators that at around 9 p.m. on July 29, she received a message from a TikTok account under the username “Anson,” warning that Grades 1 to 6 pupils at the school should “get ready” by 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31.
The message was reportedly accompanied by a photograph of an AK-47 rifle.
IPPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis said that law enforcement is taking the report seriously to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and other school personnel.
“The safety of our learners is our primary concern. We immediately directed our personnel to coordinate with the school administration and verify the reported threat while conducting the necessary investigation,” Solis said.
Following the report, police immediately met with the school head to assess the situation and bolster security measures on the campus.
The TikTok account has been referred to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 (RACU-6) for technical verification and possible identification.
“The TikTok account has already been endorsed to RACU-6 for cyber investigation. We are determining whether the account is authentic, who is behind it, and whether the threat is credible,” Solis said.
While authorities have yet to establish the authenticity of the threat, Solis assured parents and the public that full precautionary measures are being executed.
“We do not disregard threats of this nature. We are coordinating closely with school officials and other concerned agencies to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place while the investigation is ongoing,” he added.
Police also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information online that could trigger unnecessary panic, urging residents instead to report suspicious online posts or messages directly to authorities./PN
