The flight crew of Cebu Pacific aircraft said they heard a Surigao-based businessman say he had a “bomb” in his bag as he and other passengers were boarding a flight at the Mactan International Airport on Wednesday.
It turned out to be false alarm.
For uttering what is considered to be a bomb joke or threat, 42-year-old Arnold Go was arrested and spent the night in jail.
The 2:50 p.m. flight to Butuan on 5J 223/ 224 was cancelled, and all passengers were made to deplane for complete inspection of the aircraft and baggage.
Go told Cebu Daily News yesterday after his release that his words were “misunderstood” by Tagalog-speaking cabin crew, who had asked him to place his hand carried bag in the overhead bin.
Go, who operates gasoline stations in Surigao City, said he refused to heed the crew’s request since he had valuables in his bag, which he tried to explain in Cebuano, saying “Naay bulawan akong bag” (There’s gold in my bag.)
The businessman was formally charged yesterday with violation of President Decree 1727.
The special law signed in 1980 by President Ferdinand Marcos carries a penalty of a minimum fine of P40,000 and a maximum of five years imprisonment or both as determined by the court.
Under the “bomb threat” law, a person can be held liable for making a threat or passing on false information about an attempt or alleged attempt to kill, injure or intimidate someone or damage or destroy any building, vehicle or property by means of explosives. The threat can be made verbally or through any means of communication.
Go was arrested by PO3 Ian Castillo of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security (7th PCAS) based on a complaint by flight attendants Mark Jeffrey Joseph and Katrina Chetandas of Cebu Pacific Airways.
Insp. Nestor Dudmanew, deputy chief of the 7th PCAS, told CDN the police returned the sling bag to the businessman after inspecting its contents. He said a gold bracelet and necklace were inside, which Go claimed as his.
Standard procedures
A statement from the airline said the Cebu-Butuan-Cebu flight was cancelled due to a bomb threat from one of its passengers during boarding and that cabin crew immediately reported the threat to the authorities and implemented the standard safety procedures.
No bomb was found on board, and the aircraft was declared safe.
“We would like to remind the public that bomb threats and jokes are punishable by law, as per Section 1 of the P.D.1727,” said Jorenz Tañada, CEB vice president for corporate affairs.
He said the airline is coordinating with authorities regarding the incident.
“Due to this, flights 5J 223/ 224 Cebu-Butuan-Cebu have been cancelled today. CEB is arranging the re-accommodation of affected passengers in the soonest available flights, including an additional round trip flight” on Nov. 6.
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