Police hunting man behind tsunami scare

CEBU, Philippines - The unidentified motorcycle riding man who was blamed for the tsunami scare in Cebu City Monday afternoon following a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that jolted Cebu and Negros Islands is now being hunted by the police.

Cebu City Police Office director Ramon Melvin Buenafe ordered intelligence chief Romeo Santander to find out who was the person responsible for the hoax. The policemen who were seen running with the crowd will also be summoned for investigation.

Santander said they have gathered initial information about the identity of the person based on the statements given by several eyewitnesses.

The motorcycle-riding person allegedly started warning everyone on the street from Carbon Market until Barangay Hipodromo, where he lives, about a supposed tsunami. The false information has sent people to panic.

Residents from Barangays Pasil, Pardo, Inayawan, Mambaling and Labangon have scampered to seek for a higher ground. A throng of people ran for their lives believing the hoax information. Some of them reached as far as Barangay Busay and Camp Marina in Barangay Kalunasan.

Santander said as soon as they have identified the person responsible for the false information a criminal complaint will be filed against him for causing alarm and scandal. According to Santander, circulating false information that causes public disturbance is a violation of the Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code.

Santander said they will also investigate those policemen who were identified to have joined the crowd instead of correcting the false information.

Meanwhile, Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña has accused Mayor Michael Rama of mismanagement because of the latter’s alleged failure to provide the right information to prevent panic.

Osmeña said the city government should have established a command center to disseminate information given that there was already a tsunami alert issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology.

He said Rama should have immediately made public announcement and explained to the people that the tsunami alert is just a precautionary measure and that there is nothing to worry about.

Rama said when he learned about the situation of people running towards the mountains he immediately ordered Buenafe to deploy police cars and stop the people.

The mayor is amenable to Osmeña’s suggestion about establishing a command center. In fact, Rama said he is doing it already.

“Gihimo bitaw nako na. Dili lagi sila magpataka og sulti nga walay basihanan. Dili na man kana katingad-an nga sige lang sila og panaway (I am doing it already. They should stop making unfounded statement. It is no longer surprising that they keep on criticizing),” Rama said. – (FREEMAN)