DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 Sep) – A man is now facing charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office here for a bomb joke at an establishment in Calinan District last September 6.
In her resolution dated September 14, Prosecutor Imee M. Bisera-Mabale held suspect Christian Sabijon Onggona for violation of Presidential Decree 1727 based on the complaints submitted by Sherwin Amo Cataros, a security guard of NCCC Hardwaremaxx branch in Calinan.
PD 1727 declares as unlawful the malicious “dissemination of false information of the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction.”
Under Section 1, any person who violated the law will be subject to five years of imprisonment, or a fine of not more than P40,000 or both.
“The respondent, after conferring with his counsel from the Public Attorney’s Office, opted not to avail of his right to a preliminary investigation. Thus, this case is resolved in accordance with Section 6 of Rule 112 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure,” Mabale said.
The resolution also stated that Cataros was frightened after Onggona joked that his companion carried a bomb when they entered the establishment Tuesday last week.
But when Cataros immediately frisked Onggona’s companion and found nothing, the security guard immediately called for police assistance and had the suspect arrested.
“Chief, i-check na ug maayo ang akong kauban kay naa nay dalang bomba (Chief, please check my companion thoroughly because he is carrying a bomb),” Cataros quoted Onggona, who is currently detained at the Calinan Police Station.
At the Sta. Ana Police Station, authorities detained two females suspects – Trichel S. Mejares and Montessa A. Doblas – also for a bomb joke but they are still waiting for appropriate charges to be filed.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Senior Insp. Catherine dela Rey appealed to the public “to stop making prank calls, bomb joke, and avoid spreading rumors regarding bomb threats which can create panic or chaos that may result to injuries and/or damage to properties.” (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
