Bomb Scare Jolts Marcos Hall of Justice

Laoag City (10 November) – Judges and employees at the Ilocos Norte Regional Trial Court have resumed regular work today after a bomb threat sent them home on Tuesday afternoon.

It was business as usual this morning for court employees after the Special Weapons and Tactics found no bomb inside the Marcos Hall of Justice building.

A court employee found a piece of paper near the building’s staircase around 2 pm yesterday with a note saying that “four bombs are planted inside the building.”

The note sent other employees on panic at the building’s lobby where the note was found. Court employees at the second floor where scheduled hearings were on-going went about their business unaware of the commotion beneath them.

The note, which was immediately turned over to the police, conveys a nasty message accusing some judges of “having evil hearts”.

Executive Judge Conrado Ragucos ordered the suspension of work and sent home court employees including the Provincial Prosecutors’ Office personnel housed inside the building.

Inspection conducted later by SWAT elements yielded no bomb. Security at the RTC building had been ordered tightened following the bomb scare.

Threat on the lives of judges in previous years have prompted authorities to secure the building, limiting the entry and exit of court employees and the public to a backdoor entrance instead of using another access door located at another section of the building. (PIA Ilocos Norte)