A 48-year-old male passenger was arrested last Sunday over an alleged bomb joke he made aboard a Cebu Pacific flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
The Cebu-bound passenger reportedly made a comment suggesting the presence of a grenade inside his bag as it was being stowed in the overhead bin.
A member of the cabin crew immediately reported the statement to the airline and airport security personnel.
A coordinated response was carried out involving Avesegroup (Aviation Security Group), APD, EOD teams with K9 units, airport fire and medical departments, and other emergency responders.
Following standard operating procedures (SOP), the aircraft was isolated while thorough bomb detection procedures were conducted. No explosive or incendiary materials were found, and the aircraft was subsequently declared safe for departure.
The suspect is now in the custody of the NAIA Police Station 3 (NPS3) for further legal proceedings.
“Your words carry weight; what may seem like a harmless joke can trigger panic, disrupt operations, and endanger lives. Bomb threats, even as jokes, are punishable under Presidential Decree No. 1727, the Anti-Bomb Joke Law,” said Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, director of the PNP Avsegroup.
