The Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, Albay resumed operations Monday afternoon after a reported bomb stir affected several flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.
A Cebu Pacific flight at the BIA, which was set to leave for Manila, had requested security assistance due to a bomb joke, the CAAP said in a statement.
The BIA’s runway was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, the regulator said.
Security personnel also screened the luggage and hand-carried items of travelers who had been deplaned following the prank call.
In an update, the CAAP said the 130 travelers of the Cebu Pacific flight that reported the bomb hoax were already boarding for Manila.
At least 10 Cebu Pacific flights were affected by the bomb joke, according to the CAAP.
It added that a Philippine Airlines flight en route to BIA had to return to Manila because of security protocols.
The CAAP is now “working closely” with the police to uncover more details of the incident.
A person who makes bomb jokes or bomb threats in the Philippines could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to P40,000, or both.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the incident involved CEB flight 5J 326, scheduled to depart at 10:45 a.m. from Bicol to Manila.
Initial investigation showed that a bomb note was found inside the plane’s lavatory.
The CAAP and the police are still investigating where the bomb note came from or who was responsible.
“Investigations are still ongoing. CAAP, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, is working closely to find out more information regarding the incident. Rest assured that updates will be provided as the situation develops,” Apolonio said.
The discovery of the scary note resulted in the temporary closure of the runway as a precautionary measure, while passengers on the CEB flight were deplaned and directed to the arrival area for security inspection.
Personnel from the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service, Aviation Security Canine Unit, and Police-Aviation Security conducted screening of passengers’ luggage and hand-carried items for paneling.
“The passengers were deplaned, and the aircraft was relocated to the isolated aircraft parking position, where checked-in baggage and hand-carried items underwent re-screening as part of enhanced security measures,” Apolonio said.
The CAAP aired a public appeal to refrain from making bomb jokes or spreading rumors about bomb threats to prevent panic or inconvenience.
In August, two Singapore-bound passengers were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals 1 and 3 for violating Presidential Decree 1727, or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law.
One of the suspects sent a bomb threat via text message to the NAIA hotline, while the other was questioned about the presence of bombs in his luggage during the check-in process at NAIA Terminal 1. The passenger admitted to uttering the phrase “Chicharon yan pinadala sa akin, chicharon bomba, joke lang.”
The authorities stated that they are always taking a firm stance against such intolerable behavior due to the potentially grave consequences it can lead to. They added that such actions would be taken with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity as they may affect public order and safety.
Violators of PD 1727 may face imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P40,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
The law, signed by the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1980, declared unlawful and penalized the malicious dissemination of false information and the making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device or means of destruction.