Man arrested for cracking bomb joke
Just a few days after a woman was arrested in a mall in Cebu City for cracking a bomb joke, a 19year-old man was detained yesterday after allegedly telling a mall security guard that he was bringing a bomb.
Carl John Sacal, a resident of Sambag 2, Cebu City and a trisikad driver, was arrested after he allegedly cracked a bomb joke inside a mall along B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City.
Police Officer 2 Lyndon Mercader of the Fuente Police Station said he was called to assist the security guard of the mall, who arrested Sacal.
Sacal had with him a bluetooth speaker, which he reportedly showed to the security guard, saying that it was a bomb.
Sacal, however, denied saying such and claims that he knows cracking a bomb joke is prohibited.
Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said they will file a complaint against Sacal today.
"Nagproblema tayo sa text messages. Pinapasa yan, wala man lang confirmation. Much more sabihan mo meron kang bomba, which is hindi dapat," Doria said.
"Hopefully, yong sa mall security makig-cooperate to push through with this case, police kasi walang direct knowledge. Gusto natin bigyan ng leksyon tong gumagawa ng ganon," he added.
Sacal will face a complaint for violation of Presidential Decree 1727 issued during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos. The law prohibits the malicious dissemination of false information or making threats about the presence of bombs, explosives, and incendiary devices.
Violating the presidential decree is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and/or a fine of up to P40,000.
Earlier, Jasmin Sala, 37, of Mandaue City, was arrested for allegedly cracking a bomb joke inside a mall. Sala asked forgiveness, claiming she did not know that such joke was prohibited.
However, the police said that they will push through with filing a case against Sala to stress that making such jokes is not allowed, especially at this time when the police are on heightened alert due to the recent Davao bombing.