Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

This prankster who lay face-down on the ground wearing a face mask as if he was dying during the coronavirus outbreak has been slammed online.

Local media report prankster Marlon de Vera pulled the prank at the Yashano Mall in Legazpi City in Albay region of the Philippines for online likes. The Philippines was recently the first country to have somebody die from the virus outside of China.

In the video, he can be seen lying on the ground face-down and unmoving. He then gets to his feet wearing a face mask and stretches before taking off the mask and trying to walk into the shopping centre.

He then posted the video online but it has since been taken down after he reportedly received a wave of criticism.

Albay’s City Councilor Vince Baltazar said the prank could be considered a grave public scandal, a serious offence under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.

Crispin Tormes, the administrator of the Yashano Mall, said de Vera admitted it was a prank which he hoped would make him “famous” and they decided not to press charges.

The prankster has since apologised and told his followers: “I will take a break from creating these video blogging pranks. It has become scary. I don’t want to repeat it because I already promised that I will never do it again. I’m just a human being and I make mistakes.”

It is unclear if the authorities are investigating.

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