Prank gone wrong: Davao vloggers arrested over gasoline stunt

From the Facebook page of Police Regional Office 11

MANILA, Philippines — Police collared a pair of vloggers in Davao after pulling a prank that caused unwarranted “alarm, startle, disturbance” to authorities.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 said vloggers Jonel Catipsayan Cordero and Arnold Obidencio Rabi staged a practical joke at a gas station in Barangay Poblacion in Mawab, Davao de Oro on Wednesday.

Cordero bought gasoline worth P10 and asked the gas station attendant to pour it into a plastic bottle. He then pretended to drink it and acted like he was poisoned – “dizzy and portrayed vomiting which caused alarm to the crew of the gas station,” according to a statement from the police.

Gasoline station employees panicked and called the local Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) for help. MDRRMO personnel arrived at the scene to provide aid.

“Despite the presence of the MDRRMO, Cordero still pretended to be poisoned by the [supposed] gasoline that he consumed which prompted the responders to conduct medical assessment and first aid,” the PRO 11 said.

When the rescue team arrived at the place, Cordero still continued his acting. But when the team started interviewing him, he and Rabi confessed that he just drank an energy drink and that they were filming the incident as part of a prank that they would upload to their social media platforms.

The Mawab disaster response office, on its Facebook page, has urged everyone, particularly vloggers, to stop pranks related to emergencies.

It said the incident had led its response team to act immediately because there was a report of an emergency, which turned out to be merely a prank.

“You are not prevented from conducting enjoyable activities like pranks. But our plea is (for you) not to take advantage of emergency concerns because this will create panic among the people,” it added.

In this regard, a case of alarm and scandal under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code will be filed against Cordero and Rabi for causing alarm, startle, and disturbance to the public, the Mawab police said.

Cordero is behind the vlog Cordero Brothers which runs on Facebook and Youtube.

“In this regard, a case of Alarm and Scandal under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code will be filed against Cordero and Rabi for causing alarm, startle, disturbance to a member of the public,” police said.

As a precaution, PRO 11 warned citizens not to play practical jokes that could cost government resources.

“The prank pulled by Cordero, which was responded [to] by the MDRRMO, for instance, could have caused unnecessary disruption should another incident had taken place that [needed] to be responded [to],” it explained.

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