Party-list lawmaker ‘held’ for bomb joke at airport

MANILA, Philippines — A party-list congressman was briefly held at the airport yesterday after allegedly making a bomb joke.

Airport police questioned Sergio Dagooc of party-list group Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC), who was checking in at the Philippine Airlines counter for his flight to Cagayan de Oro City.

A female attendant asked him what his carry-on bag contained, since it weighed 11 kilos, four kilos more than allowable.

He reportedly said in jest, “bomba,” prompting the attendant and her supervisor to refer Dagooc to the airport police.

An airport police officer said they had to release Dagooc after his lawyer told them a member of Congress facing charges for an offense punishable by not more than six years imprisonment enjoys immunity from arrest while the legislature is in session.

The House of Representatives has been in session for only three days – Monday through Wednesday this week.

A passenger service agent at the PAL check-in counter identified as Pearl May Lansang told Dagooc that his carry-on bag was four kilos over the allowable weight of 7 kilos.

Later, Lansang asked for an identification card as a requirement for check-in process.

Then she asked the congressman what was inside the bag which he answered “clothes.” She further raised a follow up question, to which Dagooc jokingly answered “bomba.”

Upon hearing it, the airline agent immediately called the attention of her supervisor and the lawmaker was invited to the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group office.

Under Presidential Decree No. 1727, a person joking about a bomb faces five years in prison or a P40,000 fine, or both, upon the discretion of the court.

Dagooc later denied making a bomb joke, claiming it was just a case of misunderstanding.

When the attendant inquired about the contents of his bag, he said he answered, “money bands.”

“Bands” was apparently misheard as “bomb,” he said. He did not say how much money he carried.

One kilo of P1,000 bills amount to roughly P1 million. Eleven kilos would total P11 million.

Dagooc claimed he did not introduce himself as a congressman.

He is the third House member to attract controversy in less than two months of the 18th Congress.

Earlier, Ang Probinsiyano Rep. Alfred delos Santos allegedly punched a waiter in Legaspi City. On Wednesday, the third day of session of the House, Rep. Anton Lopez of party-list group Marino suddenly resigned without explanation.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has complained about the unsavory image of his chamber due to controversies involving its members.

Meanwhile, PAL through spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in a statement that the incident involving Dagooc at the airport yesterday is most unfortunate.

“We appeal to all our passengers to refrain from uttering statements which may cause undue concern, alarm and panic. PAL, the Aviation Security Group and our civil aviation authorities do not take such utterances lightly,” she said.

The PNP Aviation Security Group released him from their custody at 10:48, citing article 6 Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution: ‘A senator or member of the House of Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than six years imprisonment, be privileged from arrest while the Congress in session’,” the statement said.  – With Rudy Santos