PBGen Christopher M Abecia, Director of the PNP AVSEGROUP announced the arrest of a 48-year-old man for allegedly dishing out a bomb joke while aboard a Cebu Pacific flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
The man, whose identity is being withheld in the meantime, is said to be from Dumaguete, Negros Island Region (NIR) and was bound for Cebu when arrested on May 25, 2025.
Abecia said the incident occurred during boarding procedures when the passenger reportedly made a comment suggesting the presence of a grenade inside his bag as it was being stowed in the overhead bin.
Immediately, a member of the cabin crew reported the statement to airline and airport security personnel.
In line with this, a coordinated response was carried out involving AVSEGROUP (Aviation Security Group), APD, EOD teams with K9 units, airport fire and medical departments and other emergency responders.
Following standard operating procedures (SOP), the aircraft was isolated while thorough bomb detection procedures were conducted.
No explosive or incendiary materials were found and the aircraft was subsequently declared safe for departure.
The suspect is now in the custody of the NAIA Police Station 3 (NPS3), for further legal proceedings.
“Your words carry weight — what may seem like a harmless joke can trigger panic, disrupt operations, and endanger lives. Bomb threats, even as jokes, are punishable under Presidential Decree No. 1727, the Anti-Bomb Joke Law,” Abecia warned the public.
