For the second time, the Hall of Justice in Dumaguete City received a bomb threat in a text message from an unidentified person yesterday.

Investigations showed that the text message had been forwarded to several persons until it reached the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 office yesterday morning.

The employee who received the text immediately called for police assistance.

The text message said there was a bomb at the Hall of Justice, and the innocent persons should be informed about it.

Acting on the threat, vice executive Judge Genaro Paguio Jr. ordered the suspension of hearings in all court salas, and directed the court personnel to report back in the afternoon, after the Hall of Justice has been declared safe by the bomb squad.

After few hours, the bomb scare was found to be a hoax, Senior Insp. Eddie Oira of the city police, said.

Paguio said the bomb threat was not addressed to a certain judge, and he assured the public that all the judges in the province are upright, including that of the drugs court.

The promulgation of two drugs cases were scheduled yesterday at RTC Branch 30 but were postponed because of the bomb threat. Scheduled for promulgation were the drug cases of Lester Trasmil and one surnamed Ragay.

Provincial prosecutor Diosdado Hermosa and city prosecutor Ely Escorial said that whether the threat was a gimmick or a serious one, it still needed police intervention.*JG

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