DAVAO CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) — The court proceedings at the Hall of Justice, including the arraignment of the three accused in the murder of Richard King were disrupted after two Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches received bomb threats from an anonymous caller Friday.
An employee of RTC Branch 9 received a call from a man telling her: “may bomba akong inilagay dyan hindi ako nagbibiro (I placed a bomb there I am not joking)” and then hanged up. The employee immediately informed her colleague about the threat and asked for police assistance. Police authorities were able to get the mobile phone number of the anonymous caller that they are now tracking for investigation.
After 10 minutes, the stenographer of RTC Branch 10 also received a call from a man telling her: “Makinig ka may bomba ako inilagay dyan, pasabugin ko yan lahat di ako nagbibiro (You listen I placed a bomb there, I will explode it I am not joking)”.
This prompted police authorities to order all employees and people inside the Justice building to get out allowing police to inspect all offices.
The Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Davao City Police Office and the Explosive Ordnance Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines searched offices. After an hour, they declared the building safe.
The incident resulted in the postponement of the scheduled arraignment of three accused in the murder case in relation to the killing of Cebu City-based businessman Richard King.
The three accused Paul Dave Labang, Rommel dela Cerna and Rodel dela Cerna arrived but RTC Branch 16 Presiding Executive Judge Emmanuel Carpio rescheduled their arraignment.
This development will also delay the proceedings against Supt. Leonardo Felonia since the arraignment of the three accused was pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court, which granted the police officer’s petition to change the venue of hearing with regards to his case due to threats of his life in Davao City. (PNA)