3 face raps for bomb joke during papal motorcade

MANILA, Philippines - Police are set to file charges against three people who were arrested for cracking a bomb joke hours before Pope Francis’ mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Sunday.

Ellyn Ventura, 26; Erlinda Sion, 27; and Albert Corpuz, 21 will be charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1727 before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office.

They were detained at the Manila Police District Station 5.

Superintendent Romeo Macapaz, chief of the Ermita police station, said the three were nabbed for allegedly bragging about carrying bombs and firearms in the middle of a crowd waiting for the pope’s convoy at the corner of P. Burgos and General Luna streets at past 12:30 p.m.

Jasmin Valera, a pilgrim from Caloocan City, heard them and reported them to a policeman in the area.

Valera, who brought her daughter to the mass that drew more than six million people, expressed concern that such remarks might cause fear and a stampede.