Consulate advises public to ‘remain calm’ over alleged bomb-threat rumor

The Philippine Consulate General in Macau issued a statement on Sunday regarding a bomb threat that was disseminated to local hotels in the region, stressing that the consulate has already coordinated with relevant authorities.

The e-mail sent to local resorts last week, which the Times had access to, had the subject line of “High Security Alert of Bombings.”

According to the e-mail, the Islamic State had deployed two Filipino passport holders to hold “bombings and destruction.”

“This is an urgent high priority alert for upcoming bombing threat in Macau and Hong Kong,” the e-mail read. “IS (Islamic State) deployed two Philippine women terrorists for exploding hotels and casinos by bombings and destruction in Hong Kong, Macau [and] Manila.”

The women were allegedly sheltered and controlled by terrorist leaders.

The e-mail included information like the women’s fake names, age, height, their address in Metro Manila and attached photographs.

The e-mail claimed that the two women were responsible for a bomb attack in Davao City which killed at least 14 people, and had already entered the region last week carrying sets of explosives and firearms.

The Philippine Consulate General in Macau reminded the public to “remain calm and vigilant in their everyday dealings” and advised the public to “exercise prudence when engaging in discussions in social media to ensure that no unwarranted panic is caused.”

According to the statement, the consulate has already coordinated with appropriate authorities and was assured that measures have been taken and investigated. LV