Three arrested for “bomb joke”

CEBU, Philippines — Three persons, one of them an Australian, were arrested last Sunday for causing alarm after writing the word “bombing” in the mirror of their room in a hotel along Escario Street, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

They were identified as Jamie Allan Morgan, 48, an Australian, and Carmiel Marie Magbanua Pasco, 19; and Myla Perales Tugbong, 20, both Filipinas.

It was reported that Magbanua wrote the word “bombing” in the mirror of Morgan’s room. The writing was discovered by housekeeper Nicanor Negre who entered the room to do the daily cleaning.

Upon discovering the writing, Negre reported it right away to their chief of security Noel Clarus.

The report was lodged to the Abellana Police Station around 2 a.m. and personnel from the police station and Special Weapons and Tactics team responded to the alarm, and checked the room.

Morgan was reportedly arrested inside the hotel around 8 p.m. that same day while the other two were arrested outside during a follow-up operation.

Chief Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay, chief of Abellana Police Station, said the suspects reasoned they were only joking when they wrote the word in the mirror.

She added there is no need to test the suspects to see if they were drunk since the word itself caused public alarm.

“They just said nga gaduwa, wala nahibaw-an ang condition sa pagka-discover (because) inadvertently discovered,” Macatangay said.

As of the moment, suspects are temporarily detained at the Abellana Police Station. They will be facing charges for violating Presidential Decree 1727 for unlawful malicious dissemination of false information and willfully making threats concerning bombs, as well as for violating Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code for causing alarm and scandal. —/BRP (FREEMAN)