Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, / RECEIVED pf
Quezon City, Metro Manila ~ REMEINE °-
- Allg 1 0 202

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regilar Session

House BILL No. 3433

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

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 ot
charesteristi

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

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

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 ¢ forces of similar nature or characteristics must be enacted.

estract

A similar version of this bill was previously filed by my predecessor during the last
Congress. This representation is refiling this proposed measure because of the belief that it is
an important piece of legislation that would benefit our country and the Filipino people.

vai

4 /
JAINgAC RESEDA
Répresentative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City

In view of the foregoing, the immediat> passage of this bill is eames



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3438

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT
PROHIBITING 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
PROVIDING 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 Joke 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 characteristi

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 public places like national roads, shopping malls. 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. Prohibited Act. — No person shall, by word of mouth or through the use of
mail, electronic mail, telephone, cellular phone, fax machine, telegraph, printed materials,
video recording, social media and other instrument or means of communication, wilfully
make any threat or maliciously convey, communicate, transmit, impart, pass on, or otherwise
eminate false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or
alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or group or to
unlawfully damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by

1



means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or
characteristics.

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 Pi
(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, p and other common car toppage 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 penaltics 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 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. Effectivit. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,