Lawmaker not amused by Cebu police prank

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite was not amused by the Cebu City police’s “arresto aguinaldo” prank of pretending to arrest unsuspecting victims who were later given Christmas gifts instead. “That is not funny … Instead of holiday cheers, this ill-conceived gimmick brings chills and causes unwarranted stress and shame to its victims, people who might already be under a lot of stress due to the pandemic and the bad economy,” Gaite said in a statement. “A civilian could be arrested if he makes a prank call to the PNP hotline, and then they make this kind of gimmick … Christmas is coming not April Fool’s.” —NESTOR CORRALES