Cheyenne Suarez

What are the legal implications of a bomb joke

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ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eeLAITkjbHk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“Magbiro ka na sa lasing, ‘wag lang bomb joke.”</p><p>A man bound for General Santos City from Manila was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/28/passenger-arrested-for-bomb-joke-in-plane-1419?fbclid=IwY2xjawKqIC1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFScUU3Q2JWY2c2bzJ3cWZxAR5GICWapT31ELknBAAo51sGZDOc420jI5pWrQiEeCa5gPnS_76sszBPLkgENQ_aem_hFSf88KMoVE-m5T1no4yFg">recently arrested</a> for making a joke about his luggage. He told the Cebu Pacific flight crew adjusting his bag to be careful, saying: “Baka po may sumabog (Something might blow up).”</p><p>As a result, the man was arrested and the plane searched, causing a 3-hour delay of the flight. The man was also charged for his violation of the Anti-Bomb Joke Law.</p><p>In the program “Hello Attorney”, Atty. Noel del Prado says bomb jokes cover not just explosives but other incendiary devices.</p><p>According to Presidential Decree 1727 of October 8, 1980 otherwise known as the Anti-Bomb Joke Law, a person convicted shall 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.</p><p>But why is it illegal?</p><p>Bomb jokes cause panic and concern for public safety and security. A person convicted will be responsible for harm caused to affected parties.</p><p>Here are some possible scenarios discussed in the Hello Attorney episode:</p><div><strong>Can the person be held liable for financial damages caused to other passengers?</strong></div><p>Yes, the person convicted is held liable for the direct consequences of his negligent act.</p><div><strong>Is it considered a bomb joke if someone jokes about having a gun?</strong></div><p>As Atty. Noel del Prado says, guns and other incendiary devices or materials can still be included under the scope of a bomb joke as such devices can still cause panic.</p><div><strong>What if a minor makes the bomb joke?</strong></div><p>According to R.A. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA), a child below the age of 15 does not have criminal liability, however, the parents of the minor bear civil liability.</p><p>Indeed, bomb jokes not only cause panic but also inconvenience as well. Even worse, even if a person pays the fine, it cannot erase a criminal record.</p><p>As one of the program’s listeners said: “Wag na mag bomb joke, mag tito joke nalang tayo.”</p>

<p>A man bound for General Santos City from Manila was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/28/passenger-arrested-for-bomb-joke-in-plane-1419?fbclid=IwY2xjawKqIC1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFScUU3Q2JWY2c2bzJ3cWZxAR5GICWapT31ELknBAAo51sGZDOc420jI5pWrQiEeCa5gPnS_76sszBPLkgENQ_aem_hFSf88KMoVE-m5T1no4yFg">recently arrested</a> for making a joke about his luggage. He told the Cebu Pacific flight crew adjusting his bag to be careful, saying: “Baka po may sumabog (Something might blow up).”</p>

A man bound for General Santos City from Manila was recently arrested for making a joke about his luggage. He told the Cebu Pacific flight crew adjusting his bag to be careful, saying: “Baka po may sumabog (Something might blow up).”

What are the legal implications of a bomb joke

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What are the legal implications of a bomb joke

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Denielle Catingub

Published June 03, 2025 03:49 PM PHT

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