A Japanese manufacturing company in Lipa City , Batangas was hit by a bomb threat Friday evening which later turned out as a hoax.

A report from the Batangas police said a company nurse received a text message from an anonymous sender saying 12 explosives were smuggled inside the firm's compound and ready to explode at 7 pm.

"Twelve bombs were planted inside the plant. Evacuate while there is still time," the text sender said in Filipino.

A security guard called Lipa police at 6:30 pm. In 10 minutes, bomb squad units from the police and air force arrived.

Police Officer June Gonzales, the case investigator, said no bombs were found and the area was declared safe at 10:22 pm. "It was just a prank," Gonzales said over the phone.

It was the second bomb threat for the company and also the second this year that Japanese companies in Lipa received this kind of a threat. Emmanuel Tupas/DMS