BOMB JOKE AT PH AIRPORT SENDS FOREIGNER TO JAIL

A U.S. citizen on Tuesday night was arrested after making a bomb joke while on board a flight at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Wednesday.

According to Laguindingan Airport manager Job De Jesus, the incident happened around 9:42 p.m. on Tuesday.

De Jesus said that flight DG 6723 from Mactan-Cebu carrying 73 passengers had already landed and parked at Laguindingan Airport when the suspect made the bomb joke.

“During the disembarkation process, a US citizen stood up to retrieve his baggage and made a threatening remark: “I can shoot you all, and I can trigger the bomb,” the CAAP said.

The incident was promptly reported to the Control Tower.

PNP-Aviation Security Unit and CAAP Security and Intelligence Unit personnel, along with a K9 dog, checked all the baggage of the passengers.

No bomb was found.

The suspect was interrogated by PNP-AVSEU and detained at its headquarters in Laguindingan Airport. He will face criminal charges.

De Jesus reminded air travelers about the inconvenience caused by making bomb jokes.

“We consistently emphasize to passengers and airport users that joking or making bomb jokes at the airport or on an airplane is strictly prohibited. Anyone caught will face serious charges, including corresponding penalties and imprisonment,” he said.

Presidential Decree 1727 punishes bomb jokes with a penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine not exceeding P40,000.