Bomb jokes still not funny, remain criminal offenses
Two male passengers were arrested for making a bomb joke at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport on Sunday morning, briefly disrupting the airport’s operations.
The Civil Aviation Authority Philippines (CAAP) said the pilot of Cebu Pacific flight 5J-617 promptly initiated security measures after a flight attendant reported overhearing the two passenger making bomb jokes around 11:20 a.m.
The plane, which had come from Manila, was minutes away from landing when the flight attendant overheard the two passengers saying to each other, “It’s because there a bomb inside,” while referring to the baggage while laughing.
Receiving information from tower personnel, the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) responded to the situation. Upon landing around 11:38 a.m., the pilot ordered immediate clearance of the aircraft cabin and subjected passengers and their baggage to thorough security inspection.
By 12:43 p.m., authorities confirmed that the aircraft was free of any explosive threat. All passengers and crew members were declared safe, and the flight operations at the airport resumed without further incident.
The two passengers were subsequently placed under the custody of the local unit of the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group.
The CAAP reminded the public that making bomb jokes is a criminal offense under Presidential Decree No. 1727, which strictly prohibits false bomb threats.
Even after the decree took effect in 1980, many people, mostly airplane and ship passengers, have been arrested for making “jokes” about bombs.
Violators may be punished with imprisonment for not more than five years, a P40,000-fine, or both, at the court’s discretion.
