Seares: Catching tsunami scare mongers

Friday, February 10, 2012

HOW WILL they prosecute persons who shouted "Tsunami! Tsunami!" after Monday’s quake aftershocks and set off a city-wide panic?

All right, police may catch those whom witnesses saw and heard. (As of yesterday, two suspects were invited for questioning.) And, yes, they may trace, with high-tech device, phone messages or web tweets that caused near-hysteria.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The tricky part is proving malice. Unlike wisecracking at an airport about a bomb in one's luggage, spreading the alarm under the conditions on that fateful day is not, by itself, punishable.

Crowds were scampering for safety on open space or high ground because of a government agency's "tsunami" warning. Philvolcs admitted failure to explain; its advisory didn't tell the place and nature of the threat. Media didn't clarify early enough: homes and workplaces were already deserted when they did.

Warnings by those fleeing were of the kind made by the well-meaning, ill-informed yet moved by the wish to help save lives.

Ignorance

Critics cited ignorance of those who hysterically told others that sea waters had reached Pasil and Mabolo in Cebu City. Some journalists schooled to check facts before reporting the news reportedly freaked out too; can we expect others to behave more prudently?

There were naughty or devilish pranks, to be sure. In any crisis, they abound. But ferreting offenders out and jailing them will be tough.

Enforcing the rumor-mongering law was a monumental failure. Will police do better in picking out culprits from hundreds of people in near-hysteria?

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph or @gmail.com)