Bomb joke in HK to reach court

HONG KONG —The Philippine Consulate office said yesterday the Filipino traveler arrested here the other day for joking that he was carrying a bomb in his luggage is likely to face trial here.

According to Vice Consul Noel Novicio, traveler Joselito Daza had just boarded a Cebu Pacific plane bound for Manila at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday when he was asked by a stewardess about the contents of his "bulky hand-carried luggage."

Novicio said Daza jokingly told the stewardess that he was carrying a bomb, a statement the stewardess took seriously.

"He said that he was carrying a bomb. You cannot make such a joke. The stewardess informed the pilot, who called the airport police. Immediately, the airport police uploaded him," Novicio told The STAR.

He said Daza was arrested and charged by the police for making such a joke.

Daza came here for vacation but Novicio could not ascertain how many companions Daza was traveling with at the time of his arrest.

"Hong Kong is very strict. I don’t think he will easily be allowed to go home," Novicio said. "I think he was asked to post (bail of) HK$5,000. He will face a court hearing. Definitely, this will reach the court."

However, Novicio said that while he could not state the specific charges lodged against Daza, he said these charges involve "aviation security procedures."

Novicio has asked all Filipino travelers to refrain from making similar jokes anywhere in the world because aviation security is a serious matter.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate office here is now working for the immediate repatriation of the remains of a 47-year-old Filipino domestic helper who fell to her death from a high-rise building here Sunday. The Filipina was not identified by the consulate.

Novicio said he was uncertain of whether or not there was foul play in the victim’s death or if it was a suicide: "The (Hong Kong) police has not made any pronouncement. We have no basis to say if it was a suicide or if there’s foul play. I have to make it clear. The investigation of the police is still ongoing," he said.

As of now, Novicio said, the consulate is treating the victim’s case as a "death from a fall."

On Sunday morning, the maid’s employer reported her missing after they woke up and did not find her in her room. She failed to prepare breakfast. — Rainier Allan Ronda