The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Tuesday reiterated its appeal to air travelers to stop making bomb and prank jokes, or spreading rumors regarding bomb threats to avoid panic or inconvenience to other passengers.
The CAAP also reminded the public to be wary of doing such things and warned that making bomb joke ispunishable of up to five years imprisonment and P40,000 fine, or both under Presidential Decree 1727 (Anti-Bomb Joke Law).
The Authority made the appeal following a recent incident involving Airphil fight bound for Cebu at the Davao International Airport which was delayed for few hours after a certain Ramon Barrios had said something about a bomb, forcing the passengers to alight from the plane.
Davao International Airport officer-in-charge Rex Obcena said Barrios “made a reference to a bomb, which according to him was only a joke while he was on board the aircraft.”
“Barrios was consequently arrested by the PNP Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU) personnel and has been held for further investigation,” the CAAP stated in its report.
He was later turned over to the local Sasa Police headquarters for appropriate charges.
CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio said all passengers and cargo on board were offloaded in order to facilitate the aircraft security check, causing a delay on the flight.
Apolonio warned that jokes about carrying bombs while in the airport or on board the aircraft will be treated seriously and anyone cracking jokes will be denied carriage by the airlines and/or entry in the airport and will be subjected to investigation by the PNP.
Under Presidential Decree 1727, or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, violators may face imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P40,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Anyone circulating hoax warning through email and text messages can also be held criminally liable as it constitutes a wilful dissemination of false information which is punishable by law.
The law, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1980, declared unlawful and penalizes, the malicious dissemination of false information and the making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device or means of destruction.
Four months ago, police and airport authorities held a party-list congressman for questioning after he cracked a bomb joke at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 2.
The lawmaker was reportedly at the Philippine Airlines checking in counter for a flight to Cagayan de Oro around 4:40 pm when the incident happened.
A PAL passenger check-in service agent told the congressman that his carry-on bag was overweight of one kilo. She explained that the allowable weight for a hand carry bag is only 10 kilos.
She asked the congressman what was inside the bag which the latter answered “clothes.” The airline agent raised a follow up question but the lawmaker replied a “bomb.”
The police later released the congressman from custody.
Pursuant to Art. VI, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, “(a) senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, be in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.”
