Another ‘bomb joker’ arrested by mall guard

Carl John Sacal is now detained for telling a security guard in a mall that his USB speaker was a bomb (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON).

Police yesterday arrested another mallgoer for allegedly making a bomb joke in a shopping complex along B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City.

Carl John Sacal, 19, a trisikad driver living in Barangay Sambag 2 in Cebu City, allegedly took a circular bluetooth speaker from his pants pocket, showed it to the security guard at the mall’s entrance, and said “Naa ra o nagdala kog bomba.” (Look, I’m bringing a bomb.)

He was immediately brought by the guard to the security office.

The head security guard of City Soho Mall called a policeman who arrested the suspect.

The incident happened three days after a woman was arrested for allegedly making a bomb joke in another mall in uptown Cebu City.

Charges for violating Presidential Decree 1727, commonly known as the Bomb Joke Law will be filed against the two suspects.

Sacal denied making a bomb joke, saying he discreetly told his companion that he would leave his bluetooth speaker at the mall’s entrance because the security guard might think he had a bomb in his pocket.

“Igo ra gyud ko nga niingon sa akong kauban nga ibilin nako ang speaker kay basin ma-a-an og bomba (I simply told my companion that I would leave the speaker because people might think I’m bringing a bomb),” he said in an interview.

Sacal said the security guard at the mall’s entrance suddenly arrested him and turned him over to the police.

He said he didn’t have any intention to cause panic in the place, and that he knew that bomb jokes were prohibited.

“Nakahibaw ko nga dili angay magkomedya og mahitungod sa bomba. Dili ko magbuhat og ingon niana (I know making a bomb joke is prohibited. I won’t do anything like that),” said Sacal who went to the uptown mall to buy a towel and body spray.

PO2 Lyndon Mercader, a policeman assigned near City Soho Mall, said his attention was called by security officers of the mall after Sacal reportedly caused panic after the latter made a bomb joke.

“Let’s avoid making bomb jokes especially now that it has become a sensitive topic,” he said.

Sacal was detained at the detention cell of the Fuente Police Station pending the filing of charges against him.

Senior Supt. Joel Doria, director of the Cebu City Police Office, urged the management of malls to cooperate with the police in filing the charges against the two persons who were arrested for allegedly making bomb jokes.

“If they don’t cooperate, the charges against these suspects will likely be dismissed. We have to file charges against these people to drive home a point,” he said.

Last Friday, Jasmin Sala, production worker from Mandaue City, was arrested for dropping a bomb joke at Robinsons Place Cebu.

Accompanied by a female companion, Sala had her sling bag checked by a security guard at the mall’s entrance before walking away saying: “Naa ra ba ni bomba (There’s a bomb inside my bag).”

She was arrested by the mall guards and was turned over to the police.

Sala’s bag didn’t contain any explosives. Inside her bag were a lipstick, makeup, and a cellphone.

Sala regretted making a bomb joke.

Presidential Decree 1727 declares as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information and willful threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device, through word of mouth, use of mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials, and other means of communication.

Violators face five years in jail or a fine of P40,000 or both.