Woman arrested for bomb joke at Cebu mall

CEBU CITY — Police arrested a production worker shortly past 11 a.m. on Friday for making a bomb joke at a mall in uptown Cebu City.

Jasmin Sala, 37, a resident of Barangay Tipolo in  Mandaue City, Cebu admitted  telling the security guard that her sling bag contained an explosive, but explained it was just a joke.

“Nag-joke ra gyud ko. Wala ko kahibaw ko nga bawal na. (I was just joking. I didn’t know that’s not allowed),” she said.

Sala sobbed as policemen brought her to the Cebu City Police Office along Gorordo Avenue in Cebu City.

“Dako kaayo ang akong pagmahay. Tabangi intawn ko ninyo. (I regretted what I did. Please help me),” she said.

Charges for violating Presidential Decree 1727 or the law that prohibits malicious dissemination of false information or bomb scare will be filed against Sala at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office when work resumes on Tuesday.

If found guilty, Sala will be face a jail term of five years.

Gerly Salimbagon, chief security of Robinsons Place Fuente, said Sala told the guard at the mall’s entrance that her bag contained a bomb.

Sala and her female companion went inside the mall to process her visa application.

Salimbangon followed Sala, approached her and then invited her for questioning.

The mall security then turned her over to the police.

Sala’s bag didn’t contain any explosives. Inside the bag were a lipstick, make up, and cellphone. JE

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