Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo,_°252

Introduced by HONORABLE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

During the start of 2019, various institutions and public places in the Philippines were
already disrupted by bomb threats. The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 Management claimed that
it has received a threat through email last January 3." This is in connection to the prohibition
of liquids inside the train station since the management does not want to imperil the security
and welfare of its passengers and employees. On the other hand, the bombings of mosque in
Zamboanga City and a cathedral in Jolo in the latter part of January added fuel to the
uneasiness felt in Mindanao. After these incidents, a text message stated that a bomb was
placed around Mlang Pilot Elementary School in North Cotabato circulated around the town
last January 31.7

Bomb threats have also disturbed even restaurants and university. Last July 12, the
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director gave an order to conduct an inquiry into the three
(3) restaurants in the city that received bomb threats.’ The manager of Conti's Bakeshop and
Restaurant on Katipunan Avenue received the first alleged bomb scare around 8:40 in the
morning, while around noontime, Dapo Restaurant's manager and Half Saints Restaurant's
owner also submitted two separate complaints to the QCPD. In the Visayas area, Siliman
University ordered suspension of classes on the afternoon of July 19 due to a threat from a
certain person asserting to be an alumnus of the said university.*

These, and other previous bomb scares that threatened various places around the
country, demonstrate the need to address the growing concern on bomb threats. Every false
bomb threat which alarms an area leads to unnecessary anxiety for the people, disruption of
ular activities, economic costs from the opportunity lost for productivity due to evacuation

tivities, waste of law enforcement and emergency response resources as well as time spent
which should have been used for more pressing public concerns, among others.

* Rey, A. (2019, February 8). MRT3 management: ‘We received a bomb threat in January’. Rappler. Retrieved from
hitps:/www. rappler.com/nation/223003-mrt3-received-bomb-threat-january-2019

? Bomb scare hit Davao City, Mindanao towns. (2019, January 31). Rappler. Retrieved from
https www. rappler.comMation/222349-bomb-scare-dava0-cily-north-cotabato-january-2019

3 Ramos, M. (2019, July 17). QCPD launches probe as restos report bomb threats. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retsieved from
htips:/newsinfo.inquirer.neU/1142570/qcpd-launches-probe-as-restos-report-bomb-threals,

* siuman University suspends classes over bomb threat. (2019, July 19). Philippine Star. Retrived trom
https://www. philstar.com/nation/2019/07/19/193608 7siliman-university-suspends-classes-over-bomb-threat


These pernicious effects are further magnified when the false threat is aimed against
high population density or sensitive places like schools, airports, churches and malls, where
there is regularity in the flow of activities. In schools for instance, precious instructional time is
wasted only to the whim of pranksters who deliberately plant false bomb messages just to
disturb the area. More importantly, it puts minors at risk to stampedes and permanent
psychological trauma.

In the United States, state laws have been enacted in order to address this problem.
In Michigan, making false reports on bombs and knowingly communicating the same to
another person is punishable by imprisonment of up to four years andior fine.’ Meanwhile,
Massachusetts penalizes anyone who communicates a threat causing the evacuation of high
density and sensitive institutions or causes serious public inconvenience or alarm with three
to twenty years imprisonment and/or fine.? Countries like Japan and Britain have also
expressed their concern through the enactment of laws relating to the same acts.

In the Philippines, Presidential Decree No. 1727 on “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’ was enacted in October 8, 1980. Said law states that any person who
communicates, willfully makes any threat or maliciously conveying false information of an
attempt to damage or destroy any property by means of explosives, incendiary devices and
other destructive forces of similar nature, shall be punished with imprisonment of not more
than five years or a fine of not more than forty thousand pesos (Php 40,000) or both at the
discretion of the court”

However, with the increase in incidences of false bomb threats, there is a need to enact
a law that will supplement P.D. 1727, which will impose stiffer penalties when the act is done
in high population density and sensitive areas, in the objective of curbing incidences of false
reports which result to the detriment of the victims from losses in productivity and resources.

In the 17th Congress, Former Rep. Romero S. Quimbo filed the bill and was passed
in the Third Reading. In view whereof, the expedient approval of this bill is requested.

STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO
tepresentative
2nd District, Marikina City

‘Bomb threat penalties - S.B. 645: Enrolled analysis, (n.d). Senate Fiscal Agency. Retrieved from
hitp:/wuw legislature. mi govidocuments/2001-2002/billanalysa/Senate/hiwV2001-SFA-O645-E him

®<General Laws". (n.d.). The 191st General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved from
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Generallaws/PartIV/TitleWChapter269/Section14

7 Presidential Decree No. 1727. (October 8, 1980). Retrieved from
/ntp:/hwwnw,chanrobles, com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno1727.himit XX0-7S2B06h


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HouSE BILL No._5252

Introduced by HONORABLE STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION ON THE
PRESENCE OF BOMBS, EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER INCENDIARY DEVICES IN HIGH
DENSITY OR SENSITIVE PLACES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “False Bomb Threat Prohibition Act
of 2019”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to undertake
all measures to protect all persons, especially its citizens, from being subject to the injurious
effects of false information and threats on bombs and explosives, in the objective of upholding
their security and safety, especially in high density and sensitive places where the risks are
higher.

As used in this Act, “high density” shall refer to areas which are regularly populated
with people, including but not limited to public spaces like national roads, public parks, airports,
seaports, hotels and malls, or where people are gathered for an event.

“Sensitive areas” shall refer to those which are subject to high risks upon violation of
this Act because of the magnitude of resulting possible losses in productivity, resources, and
religious value notwithstanding the number of people present therein, including but not limited
to educational institutions, offices, government institutions, and churches.

SECTION 3. Prohibition. - No person shall wilfully communicate or cause to be
communicated, either directly or indirectly, orally, in writing, by mail, by the use of a telephone
or telecommunication device including, but not limited to, cellular phones, electronic mail,
internet communications and facsimile communications, through an electronic communication
device or by any other means, a threat or information involving a bomb, explosive or incendiary
device, when such a threat is in fact not present, thereby causing either the evacuation or
serious disruption of a school, school related event, school transportation, or a dwelling,
building, place of assembly, facility or public transport, or an aircraft, ship or common carrier,
or wilfully communicates or causes serious public inconvenience or alarm.

SECTION 4. Penalties. — Any person found guilty of violating this Act or any rules and
regulations issued pursuant hereto shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not
less than six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One Million
Pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) or both.


SECTION 5. Separability Clause. ~ If any part or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, and
rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,