Cebu radioman faces raps for tsunami scare

A radio broadcaster is facing a complaint in the prosecutor’s office here for reportedly causing the February 6 tsunami scare that sent hundreds of people into panic, a few hours after a 6.9-magnitude quake hit Cebu and Negros.

Several witnesses tagged Danilo Cogtas, 39, of Lawaan 1, Talisay City, a block timer for radio station dyRB, as the one who told residents of Barangay (village) Pasil that the tsunami was about to swamp the place. In the complaint, Cogtas was accused of violating Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code.

President Benigno Aquino III ordered authorities to identify and charge people responsible for the tsunami scare when he visited Negros Oriental last week.

Two drivers of passenger motorcycles executed affidavits stating that they saw a man with a media identification card and riding a motorcycle, telling the people about the tsunami, said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, city police intelligence chief.

Some witnesses inside the CCTN television station reportedly overheard Cogtas boasting that people panicked when he told them that the tsunami was forthcoming, Santander said.

He said police investigators were checking reports that a council member of Barangay Ermita, Domingo Ando, also spread the rumor.

Both Cogtas and Ando showed up at the Criminal Investigation Bureau office of the city police on Thursday and denied the allegations.

Cogtas, who is connected with Tabang Sugbo Organisasyon based in Lawaan Uno Talisay City, said he was with the group’s secretary who, upon hearing about the tsunami rumor, became worried about the safety of her 2-year-old daughter who was in Pasil. He identified her only as Grace,

While waiting for her to fetch her child, Cogtas said he called  his son in Talisay and told him to go the mountain area in Talisay since the tsunami was coming.