Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No, 745

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to penalize persons who make false information and threats on bombs,
explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics.

“Bomb jokes,” as these are more commonly called results to unnecessary panic among
the people and in places where these are directed. Some of the worst effects of such insensitive
and irresponsible jokes are injuries to persons, damage to property, disruption of important
official and private transactions and loss of potential income to business establishments.

‘The present law that is supposed to penalize these kinds of actions, Presidential Decree
1727 (PD 1727), has become obsolete and unimplementable. It provides for an arrest through
an Arrest, Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) and trial by the military tribunals or military
courts.

From the foregoing, it is clear that PD 1727 needs to be updated and that a new law that
would cover false information and threats on bombs, explosives, incendiary devices, and other
destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics must be enacted.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

dite die B. >
Represehtative

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City ‘

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
745

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION OF ANY THREAT
CONCERNING BOMBS, EXPLOSIVES OR ANY SIMILAR DEVICE OR MEANS OF
DESTRUCTION AND IMPOSING PENALTIES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippine in Congress
assembled: ‘

Section 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the “Anti-Bomb Threat Act”.

Sec, 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to undertake
all measures to protect its citizens from the unnecessary yet damaging effects to life and property
of false information and threats on bombs, explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive
forces of similar nature or characteristics.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a. High density areas — refer to areas which are regularly populated with people including
but not limited to publie places like national roads, shopping mails, public parks, airports, seaports,
bus terminals, train stations, hotels and inns, or any place where people are gathered for an event;

b, Sensitive areas — refer to those areas that are subject to high risk upon violation of this
Act because of the magnitude of the consequences that may arise such as possible losses in
productivity, resources, services, and religious values, notwithstanding the number of people
present therein, including but not limited to government offices, educational institutions, hospitals,
churches or other places of worship. '

Sec. 4. Prohibition. — Any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail,
electronic mail, telephone, cellular phone, fax machine, telegraph, printed materials, social media
and other instrument or means of communication, makes any threat or 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

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individual or group or to unlawfully 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 be penalized as prescribed in Section 5 hereof.

Sec. 5. Penalties. — (a) Any person who violates this Act shall be punished with
imprisonment of not more than five (5) years or a fine not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P50,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense herein
defined and penalized.

(b) If the violation of this Act is directed at high density areas or sensitive areas and causes
the evacuation of a dwelling, building, place of assembly, facility, including public transportation,
aircraft, ship and other common carriers, stoppage or cancellation of any kind of service to the
public, the penalty shall be imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years or a fine not exceeding!
One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over
the offense herein defined and penalized.

The foregoing penalties shall be imposed without prejudice to other liabilities under the
Revised Penal Code or any special law, arising out of or on occasion of the herein prohibited act.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. ~ Presidential Decree No. 1727 entitled “Declaring As Unlawful
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 Therefor” is hereby expressly repealed.

Any other law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction,
administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
is hereby repealed or amended accordingly. '

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,