Dear PAO, I often hear news of passengers getting offloaded from flights for making bomb-related remarks, either on-board the aircraft or while undergoing routine security inspection. Beyond getting offloaded from their flights, however, I wonder if the passengers who are caught making bomb jokes actually face arrest and if so, for what crime?

Bam

Dear Bam,

Presidential Decree (PD) 727, otherwise known as the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, which took effect on October 8, 1980, declares as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction.

The decree was enacted primarily to curb the commission of acts which pose grave and positive danger to public safety and security, as well as those which could otherwise cause or create public confusion and disorder.

Under Section 1 of PD 727, individuals who are caught making remarks — be it as a joke or comment, which refers not only to bombs or other explosives, but to any instrument of violence while at the airport or on board any flight, may face imprisonment of not more than five years and may be subjected to the payment of fine in an amount not more than P40,000, to wit: “Section 1. Any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communications, willfully makes any threat or maliciously conveys, communicates, transmits, imparts, passes on, or otherwise disseminates false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics, shall upon conviction be punished with imprisonment of not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein defined and penalized.”

From the foregoing, the utterance of any bomb-related remarks on board a plane or at the airport, be it in the context of a joke, a jab, or simply a comment, is an act punishable by law. Apart from the grave inconvenience it may cause to one’s self and to the other passengers, the act may also give rise to a violation of PD 727, an offense which carries with it the serious penalties of imprisonment and fine.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice was solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.