MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Police District on Monday filed before the prosecutors’ office in Manila a criminal case against three people who cracked a bomb joke during Pope Francis’ visit to Manila.
A case for violation of Presidential Decree 1727 – which declares as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information of the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives etc. – has been filed against Ellyn Ventura, 26, from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Erlinda Sison, 27, medical secretary and a native of Pangasinan and Albert Corpuz, 21, a housemaid, also from Pangasinan.
The three were taken to the prosecutors’ office to undergo inquest proceedings.
An inquest is an informal and summary investigation conducted by the public prosecutor in a criminal case involving a person arrested and detained without the benefit of a warrant of arrest for determining whether the person should remain under custody and be charged in court.
The three were arrested Sunday around 12:30 p.m. after witnesses heard the three talking “bakit ako may dalang bomba, bakit hindi nila na-detect? followed by “Ako din may dalang 45…pesos and “ako din, may dalang 38…pesos.”
The police said they told the three that they could have caused alarm and stampede but the three only laughed.
If convicted, the penalty is imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of P40,000 or both depending upon the discretion of the court that will handle the case.
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