Pranksters jailed for scattering‘bombs’

COTABATO CITY — In these terror-ridden times, scaring people with fake bombs is no laughing matter.

Abdul Mama Ali, 24, and Ismael Mendoza, 34, learned this grievous lesson themselves; they are now behind bars for scattering boxes that seemed to contain improvised explosives, causing panic in many areas in Kidapawan City last week.

Catholic radio station dxND, an outfit of the Oblates congregation, reported yesterday that Kidapawan City prosecutor Al Calica found probable cause to indict Ali and Mendoza, for violation of Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code.

Calica said what seemed to be a prank for Ali and Mendoza caused public alarm and scandal, causing panic among city residents.

The Kidapawan police filed charges against the two with the help of witnesses who saw them planting several boxes that appeared to contain explosives in populated districts around the city.

Ali and Mendoza were arrested hours after bomb experts checked the suspicious-looking boxes, which merely contained trash, human feces and fruit peelings.

In recent years, Kidapawan residents have witnessed deadly bomb attacks in the city’s public bus terminal, which explains why the mere sight of abandoned boxes and shopping bags in busy spots could trigger panic.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said the prosecution of Ali and Mendoza could serve as an eye-opener to like-minded people not to commit "acts of stupidity" just to scare people.

"I am also contemplating on (urging) our provincial board to formulate a law that would heavily penalize pranksters of this kind," an irate Piñol said.