Balloon-popping activity sparks false shooting alarm at Bohol school

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — A classroom activity involving the bursting of balloons triggered a false shooting alarm at Holy Name University (HNU) in Barangay Dampas here on Thursday evening, Sept. 24, prompting police to conduct a security sweep of the campus.

Tagbilaran City police said they received a report of an alleged shooting at around 6:31 p.m. and immediately responded, under the leadership of Lt.Col. Joey Mallare Bicoy, officer-in-charge of the station.

Police said no shooting incident had occurred.

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Initial investigation showed that fourth-year BS Biology students in Room 407 on the fourth floor heard a series of bursting sounds accompanied by loud shouting from outside. They initially believed the sounds could have been gunshots.

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READ: Campus shooter ‘planned  attack, warned classmates’

Police traced the sounds to a Management class in Room 205 on the second floor, where first-year Human Resource Management students were conducting an activity between 6:20 and 6:40 p.m. that involved bursting balloons, accompanied by shouting by the students.

The police said their investigation found no actual shooting or related security threat.

Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap said the loud sounds and shouting from the lower floor echoed to the upper floors, prompting some students to call 911. Students and teachers also barricaded their classrooms and turned off the lights as a precaution.

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Yap commended the students for immediately reporting what they believed was a possible threat.

“Based on the investigation, no shooting incident occurred at Holy Name University,” Yap said, stressing that reports of possible threats should be treated seriously until authorities can verify the situation.

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Tagbilaran police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit conducted a floor-by-floor security sweep of the campus before declaring the area as “cleared.”

Yap also reminded the public to immediately report suspicious activity or perceived threats through the city’s 911 emergency response system. “If you see or sense a threat, report it. Call 911,” Yap said. /cb