By I. Inojales |09:57 PM September 24, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY — No shooting incident occurred at Holy Name University (HNU) in Tagbilaran City on Thursday evening, Sept. 24, after loud sounds and shouts from a classroom activity triggered a security scare on campus, Mayor Jane Yap said.
Yap said the sounds, which came from a classroom activity on the lower floor, echoed through the upper floors of the campus. Some students who heard them thought they could be gunshots and immediately called 911 to report a possible security threat.
Students and teachers then barricaded classroom doors and switched off the lights as a precaution.
Tagbilaran City police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit immediately responded and conducted a floor-by-floor security sweep of the campus under the direction of Tagbilaran City police chief PLtCol. Joey Bicoy.
“Based on the investigation, NO SHOOTING INCIDENT OCCURRED at Holy Name University,” Yap said in an official statement.
Yap said authorities took the report seriously despite the absence of a confirmed shooting, stressing that reports of possible threats must be treated urgently until authorities can verify and clear the situation.
She also commended the students who called 911, saying they did the right thing by reporting what they believed could have been a security threat.
“If there is something you hear, see or notice that may be a possible threat or suspicious activity, do not ignore it. Report it immediately,” Yap said.
She said the incident also highlighted the purpose of Tagbilaran City’s 911 Emergency Response System, which provides a single emergency number and facilitates immediate coordination among responding authorities.
“If you see or sense a threat, report it. Call 911,” Yap said.
