Each threat received through any means of communications should be threated as real and must be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities.
Telephone Bomb Threats. The receiving party must remain calm and courteous. Try to obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Take note of the following procedures.
1. Get the identity of the caller.
2. Take note of the following: male or female voice; young, middle-age or old sounding voice; accent of voice; speech impediments or peculiar voice characteritics; any background noise; does the voice sound familiar.
3. The exact words of the person placing the call.
4. Show no emotion on the phone.
5. Know the exact location of the bomb.
6. Ask for the description of the bomb/composition of the explosive. Repeat the message to the caller whenever possible and ask for confirmation.
7. The receiving party should remain calm and courteous. He should listen carefully and write down accurately the information the caller provides.
8. If possible, refer the caller to a supervisor of a person in authority to extract more information.
9. Apply delaying tactics and engage the caller in prolonged conversation.
10. The person receiving the bomb threat should attempt to ask the caller certain questions: When the bomb going to explode?
11. What does the bomb look like? What will cause the bomb to explode? Why did you place the bomb?
12. Remember the caller may not answer your question, but additional information that he may relate will be helpful.
13. Contact the police department, fire department or local government agencies for any assistance in developing your security or bomb incident plans.
14. Training is essential to deal properly with a bomb threat incident. Instruct all personnel, especially those at telephone switchboard, on what to do if a bomb threat is receive.
HANDWRITTEN OR TYPED NOTES. Documents and other materials received should be carefully handled to preserve marks, fingerprints, etc., for examination by competent authorities. These items should be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities for analysis and evaluation. Written messages should never be ignored.
PERSON TO PERSON OR DIRECT THREAT
1. Notify your security supervisor immediately.
2. Keep the person making the threat or indicating knowledge of a threat under surveillance until relieved by your supervisor.
3. Take note of the age, height, weight, sex, color of eyes /skin , clothing and unusual characteristics such as lameness, twitching or any peculiarities of the person under surviillance. Observe other personal behavior, if any.
4. If the person leaves the scene, take note of the make, model, color, plate number and markings of the vehicle used.
PHYSICAL SEARCH OF THE BUILDING. The most effective and fastest search of a building can be made by the normal occupants of the building. Bombs can be package in many different ways as the maker's imagination will allow. Since the object of the search can vary in size and shape, it is a fundamental rule that search must be made by persons who are familiar with the area in order to notice a stranger or foreign object.
In some instances, the detonation or ignition of any explosive or incendiary might depend on a change in environment, e.g. temperature variations or the presence of an electric current. Therefore, the personnel assigned to conduct the search should be cautioned not to cause, or at least minimize any change in the invironment.
Do not go into a dark room and turn on lights or change the setting of the thermostat in the room.
Source: Public Information Drive Leaflet, Philippine Bomb Data Center, 2nd Floor Maritime Building, Camp Crame, Quezon City. Phone: (02) 412-0062/412-0065 CRAMETEX 712-0401 to 10 loc 4496/4497 Fax: 412-0065 Email: pbdc@pnp.gov.ph
