SECURITY guards of Ayala Center Cebu took into custody a 15-year-old student on Wednesday evening for allegedly making a bomb joke.
SPO4 Roldan Paller of the Mabolo Police Station said the mall security management sought police assistance past 9 p.m. “We don’t know yet if the student is a boy or a girl. The students is still at the security office of Ayala mall,” Paller said.
The minor is the third person to be detained in a span of six days on accusations of dropping a bomb joke.
Last Sept. 9, Jasmin Sala, a production worker from Mandaue City, was arrested after telling an entrance security guard of the Robinsons Place Cebu, who was inspecting personal belongings of all those entering the mall, that she had a bomb inside her bag. She was taken into custody by the mall guards and was turned over to the custody of the police. Sala’s bag, on inspection, only contained makeup items and a cellphone.
Three days later, Carl John Sacal, 19, was arrested for allegedly making a bomb joke at the City Soho Mall along B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City. Sacal allegedly took a circular bluetooth speaker from his pants’ pocket, showed it to the security guard at the mall’s entrance, and said: “Nara o nagdala kog bomba. (Look, I’m bringing a bomb).”
Presidential Decree (PD) 1727, often referred to as the Bomb Joke Law, 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 depending on the court’s ruling.