MAWAB, Davao de Oro - The Mawab Police Station arrested two individuals for pulling a prank that startled the public in a gasoline station situated at a National Highway in Brgy. Poblacion, Mawab, Davao de Oro on Wednesday afternoon, January 18, 2023.
According to authorities, the suspects identified as Jonel Catipsayan Cordero and his accomplice Arnold Obidencio Rabi pulled a prank as supposed content for their vlog.
Cordero bought gasoline and requested the gas attendant to pour it into an empty bottle. He pretended to drink the bottle and acted to be dizzy and began “vomiting.” This alarmed the gas station staff, who immediately called medical and emergency respondents.
Personnel from the Mawab Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) responded to the area and gave medical assessment and first aid to Cordero.
Eventually, he declared that he was pulling a prank together with his accomplice.
Cordero then clarified that it was an energy drink and not the purchased gasoline he drank.
Authorities immediately arrested the two individuals, and charges were filed against them.
The two, who are residents of Purok 4, Brgy. Nueva Visayas in Mawab, were charged for Alarm and Scandal under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code.
In defense, the arrested individuals said they had no intention of causing alarm following their stunt.
The MDRRMO-Mawab, in an advisory, reminded the public to avoid pulling any pranks related to emergencies.
"Ang Mdrrmo Mawab Team kinasingkasing nga nagahangyo sa atong mga kaigsuonang vloggers partikular aning CORDERO Brothers nga taga Andili nga unta likayan kining pagbuhat og mga PRANKS may kalabutan sa emergency," the MDRRMO wrote in its advisory.
"Wala man mo gibawalan nga maglingaw-lingaw anang inyong PRANKS apan hangyo lang mi, ayaw intawon idamay kining emergency concerns kay maka-create og panic sa katawhan o publiko. Manghinaut mi nga dili na kini mausab. Magtinabangay kita nga mamahimong hapsay ug layo sa disgrasya ang atong lungsod," MDRRMO added.
In a separate statement, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao also reminded the public to refrain from doing pranks "that would not only create chaos, alarm, and disturbance but could waste the resources of any individual or government employees."
"The prank pulled by Cordero which was responded to by the MDRRMO for instance could have caused unnecessary disruption should another incident have taken place that need to be responded," PRO-Davao said. JPC