By Alexandria San Juan
A train rider was arrested after dropping a bomb joke at the Metro Rail Transit-Cubao Station in Quezon City Saturday morning.
National Capital Region Police Office Regional Director Guillermo Eleazar confirmed that a man identified as Jasper Laguda, a resident of Caloocan City, was nabbed for alleged bomb joke and direct assault.
Based on the initial report, Laguda was about to enter the Araneta-Center Cubao Station of MRT-3 around 9:45 a.m and went through a bag inspection.
According to duty security guards of the station, Laguda told them he has a bomb when they asked what is inside the box he was carrying.
While security personnel prevented the suspect to enter, Laguda insisted to board the train and even tore the uniform of one of the guards in the ensuing struggle.
Laguda was brought to the Police Detachment at the MRT-Shaw Boulevard Station before he was turned over to Quezon City Police Station 7 in Cubao.
He will be charged with violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727 which states that malicious dissemination of false information and willful threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device is unlawful.
Violators of PD1727 face a penalty of five years in jail and/or a P40,000 fine depending on the court’s ruling.