The Philippines is the 76th happiest country in the world and the second-happiest country in Southeast Asia, according to the World Happiness Report 2023.
Filipinos are labeled as people who has a good sense of humor. They can laugh even at tough times and joke on their difficult situations.
However, not every joke is funny, especially if it has something to do with public safety and security.
Presidential Decree No. 1727, the Anti-Bomb Joke law, declares as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction and imposing penalties therefor.
Bomb scare in Zamboanga city hall
A bomb scare briefly interrupted normal operations on Wednesday morning, June 14, 2023 in Zamboanga City hall.
Mayor John Dalipe has immediately instructed the security forces to ensure safety of the century-old building and the employees including the transacting public as well as to conduct an in-depth investigation of the prank calls to determine the caller’s identity and location.
City Security Unit (CSU) Chief Christopher Mandi assured that authorities were under control of the situation and that an investigation was done to identify the caller who dialed the hotline number of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) where the threat was first made.
After CDRRMO, another bomb threat was made through a phone call to the City Legal office and later to the City Mayor’s Office. The bomb threat was reported to the CSU shortly before 9am.
The Bomb Squad of the Zamboanga City Police Office conducted a thorough search of the entire City Hall – both main and annex buildings, and even outside the premises. The paneling led by K9 units, yielded negative for explosives, except for a box containing bond papers and other trash which was found outside the building.
Security forces lifted the cordon around City Hall at about 10am.
Measures were taken to evacuate the City Hall as part of security protocols. Nonetheless, authorities confirmed that the incident safely ended after it was determined that the threat was not genuine.
Mandi assured that strict security measures are in place to ensure the safety of the employees as well as the clients.
Person of interest in city hall bomb scare in police custody
A few hours after the bomb scare that briefly interrupted City Hall operation, the Police have a person of interest in custody.
CSU Chief Christopher Mandi confirmed that the person of interest was invited for questioning on Wednesday afternoon following pursuit operations launched by operatives from Police Station 11 in collaboration with CSU personnel.
This development resulted from a thorough background investigation on the number that registered in the caller ID of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) where the first bomb threat was relayed.
The person’s name was not revealed pending further investigation.
Suspect in city hall bomb scare undergoes inquest proceedings
The City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated inquest proceedings against the woman, tagged as person of interest, in the bomb scare that disrupted operations in City Hall Wednesday morning, on charges of violation of Presidential Decree 1727.
The Police Station 11 is closely working with the City Security Unit and the CDRRMO, City Legal office and the City Mayor’s Office, where the bomb threats were made, to build a tighter case.
The suspect is a 30-year old woman and an employee of a garments shop in the city. Her location was traced following background investigation conducted by authorities on the telephone number that was registered in the caller ID of the CDRRMO where the bomb threat was first relayed.
Through the inquest proceedings, the City Prosecutor’s Office will conduct an informal and summary investigation on the charges against the suspect to determine whether or not there is a probable cause.
The anti-bomb joke law
Presidential Decree No. 1727, otherwise known as the anti-bomb joke law penalizes the malicious dissemination of false information of the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction and imposing penalties.
PD 1727 was put into effect in light of the bombings, arsons, and other terroristic acts committed by radicals and other lawless elements in the country, and other persons popularly known or described as "pranksters", that have been conveying, propagating or otherwise disseminating false information or willfully making threats regarding the alleged presence of bombs, explosives, or any similar device or means of destruction in buildings and other places.
Any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication, willfully makes any threat or maliciously conveys, communicates, transmits, imparts, passes on, or otherwise disseminates false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics shall upon conviction be punished with imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or a fine or not more than forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein defined and penalized.
The offender arrested shall not be entitled to bail pending trial by the courts.
Jokes are meant to be funny, not scary
The government is serious when it comes to jokes and false information that pose a grave and positive danger to public safety and security.
The public has yet to learn the outcome of the case against the suspect in the city hall bomb scare, but this serves as a useful reminder that humor has limitations, and jokes are meant to be funny, not scary. (RVC/CCP/PIA9 with reports from the City Government of Zamboanga)
