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The Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) is asking the media to help make the public aware that making jokes or comments about explosives within airport premises and while inside commercial aircrafts is a crime.

Chief Superintendent Atilano Morada, PNP-ASG chief, said the public should be reminded and warned that violating Presidential Decree 1727 with false bomb threats or jokes is a crime punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to P40,000 or both.

He issued the call after another passenger was nabbed for making a bomb joke at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Monday night.

Leah Kristin Silverio, 28, was having her bags checked before boarding a flight to Seoul when she allegedly said in Filipino, “Go ahead and inspect it, a bomb inside will explode anytime now.” Korean Airlines security personnel notified the 1st Police Center for Aviation Security unit of the PNP-ASG at the NAIA Terminal 1.

Morada said Silverio is likely to face false bomb threat charges before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office. She is the ninth passenger to crack a bomb joke at the NAIA this year. Six of them are foreign nationals, while three, including actor John Estrada, are Filipinos.

Last year, the PNP-ASG recorded a total of 13 passengers questioned for making statements about carrying explosives.

If the trend continues, Morada said there will be more incidents this year, considering that it is only May.

“We need a continuous awareness campaign and the media can really help,” he told The STAR in an interview, expressing disappointment over how some passengers appear to dare the police to arrest them.  – Michael Punongbayan