Argao, Cebu — At least 400 elementary pupils were evacuated Wednesday from the school building they used to occupy after parents feared that the building could collapse anytime due to the ongoing treasure dig inside the Argao Central Elementary School compound in this town.

The pupils were transferred to another building on Tuesday, said Principal Willy Adunay Jr., after parents complained and expressed fears that the building could be affected by the diggings underneath.

Adunay denied reports that the digging was meant to search for treasure but sources said the school digging began after talks circulated around town that the area was used as an armory by Japanese troops during World War II.

The area was believed to contain gold bars and other precious artifacts supposedly left behind by the invading soldiers during their retreat from the Americans.

Sources said Adunay allegedly invited friends to “clean up” the underground of the building, which houses the septic tanks, several days ago.

The Department of Education has already ordered a stop to the ongoing digging to prevent any injury to the students.

Cebu Schools Division Superintendent Arden Monisit said she has also requested the Cebu Provincial Police Office to monitor the area to ensure that her order to stop the digging is enforced.

Monisit also ordered a thorough investigation to determine who ordered the digging and the liabilities of the school administrators. She said she was only informed of the alleged treasure hunting by reporters.

Earlier, DepEd also launched an investigation on earlier treasure diggings at the Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School in Barangay Basak, Cebu City.

Barangay officials speculated that the excavation in the school ground was intended for treasure hunting and not for a compost pit as insisted by the school principal.

A number of residents in Barangay Basak-Pardo also noticed the excavation in the grounds that has been going on for more than a month.

The school principal said the excavation was made after garbage trucks from the barangay failed to collect their trash. She even lashed at media for “making a hill out of a mole” of the issue.