Radioman pleads not guilty in tsunami scare

Radio announcer Danilo “Danny” Cogtas yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of causing tumult and public disturbance in relation to the Feb. 6 “tsunami scare” in downtown Cebu City.

Cogtas filed the appeal through his lawyer, broadcaster Ruphil Bañoc before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC).

“The private complainant did not even come,” he said.

Bañoc said they will present during the trial experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) who originally declared the Level 2 tsunami alert that caused panic in downtown Colon and other parts of Cebu City.

The pre-trial conference is scheduled on February 6 next year. If convicted, Cogtas faces one month to six months imprisonment.

In a complaint filed five months ago, two habal-habal drivers identified Cogas as the man who shouted to everyone within earshot that a tsunami was coming.

But Cogtas said he was telling his son over the cellphone to flee to higher ground to avoid a tsunami He said their conversation was overheard by other people.

Cogtas handles a commentary program in radio dyRB. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos