(Eagle News) — National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday, Jan. 30, dismissed as a hoax a social media post that said an SM branch would be bombed by the Abu Sayyaf if mall officials did not pay $15 million.
According to Eleazar, the message which came from a certain Kyla Avonahceh, was “obviously too casual and carefree in the face of a very serious and extremely scary threat.”
He recalled what he said was a a similar statement that circulated on social media during the bombing of the Roxas night market in Davao in September 2016.
He added that if the threat was real, “a more responsible company and a sane organization like SM would immediately go to us here at the NCRPO and any announcement will likely be done in the sober traditional media such as television, radio and print, rather than just in social media where fake news is already a permanent fixture.”
“This (SM message) is a replay of a similar hoax meant to sow alarm and panic among the citizens in Metro Manila and done by people who are clearly enemies of the State or by irresponsible pranksters,” Eleazar said.
He said the Metro Manila police were doing their part, following the bombings in Jolo, Sulu, and other incidents.
“Let us go by the required daily activities of life with our families, friends and co-workers. Let’s continue to enjoy our lives. I ask our fellow Metro Manilans to be patient and cooperative with our heightened security procedures which is for the good of all,” Eleazar urged the public.
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