Republic of the Philippines kK
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon DATE March 5, 2024
NINETEENTH CONGRESS fy TIME __7:00 pm

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 10047

INDEX

‘TRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

AN ACT

PROHIBITING THE DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION ON BOMB
THREATS, EXPLOSIVES, OR ANY OTHER LIFE-THREATENING OR
DESTRUCTIVE MATERIALS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

During the past months several bomb threats has been experienced throughout the
country mostly done in schools, universities and in several government agencies. The
latest was just this February wherein a threat was sent through email and text
messaging which disrupted classes and work operations in Bataan, Zambales, and
Metro Manila.’ According to newspaper reports, similar bomb threats last September
and October last year on government establishments was done by the same offender.*

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported that recent threats have extended
beyond our borders, affecting neighboring countries as well. Investigations have
revealed that these incidents originated from a Japanese Lawyer named Takahiro
Karasawa who utilized electronic mail to disseminate the threats.®

Utilizing the internet for disseminating bomb threats is not unprecedented. In a similar
incident in 2018, reports indicated that a flight attendant purportedly posed as a member
of the terror Abu Sayyaf Group and sent bomb threats to multiple airline companies via
electronic mail.

80 bomb threat reports received last Monday. INQUIRER.net.

* egosino, F. (2024, February 15). PNP: At
Inttow'//nmwsinto inquirer nat) 190482 /tard-pnp-on-

2 Emmanuel Tupas, M.E. V. (2024, February 12). Bomb threats hit Metro Manila, Luzon Offices, schools. Philstar.com.
https://www phistar.com/headlines/2024/02/13/2332960/bomb-threats-hit-metro-manila-uzon-offices-schools

> pNP-PIO. (2024, February 15). PNP statement on hoax Bomb Threots. Philippine National Police. https://pnp.gov.ph/pnp:
statement-on-hoax-bomb-threats

* sadongdong, M. (2018, August 25). Flight attendant nabbed over Bomb Threat » Manilo bulletin news. Manila Bulletin.
Inttps//news.mb.com.ph/2018/08/24/fight-attendant-nabbed-over-bomb-threat/

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This proposed measure seeks to give stricter penalty and thorough process of
apprehension to any person who will make and/or disseminate false information on
bomb threats.

False bomb threats not only induce panic but also divert crucial resources away from
genuine emergencies. It likewise disrupt normalcy in society, causing inconvenience
and operational losses to business, schools, transportation systems, and government
agencies. By imposing strict penalties on individuals or groups responsible for
disseminating false information under this proposed legislation, we can minimize or
eradicate the “mindset of people who are taking these matters lightly through pranks
and jokes’. We want to instill to the public the seriousness of the matter and that the

utmost safety of people's lives and their properties are safeguarded and protected from
significant harm.

In addition, responding to bomb threats requires significant financial and human
resources, law enforcement agencies, emergency response teams, and other
authorities invest substantial time, effort, and money in investigating and managing
these threats, the enactment of this Act will conserve these resources for genuine
emergencies and calamities.

Despite the enactment of the Presidential Decree No. 1727, entitled "Declaring as
Unlawful 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 Imposing Penalties Therefor’, signed on October 1980, there has been a persistent
occurrence of malicious threats all around the country, which in recent months have
been done through the use of digital platforms.

Without a stricter law addressing the false bomb threats, perpetrators may easily
escape accountability. This will establish legal standards and repercussions for those
who engage in such malicious and dangerous behaviors.

Advocating for the enactment of an Anti False Bomb Threat Law is crucial for
safeguarding public safety, preventing disruption, conserving resources, ensuring legal
accountability and deterring future offenses. This Act will serve as a vital tool in

maintaining order and protecting communities from the harmful consequences of false

bomb threats. y

JURDI IS M. ROMUALDO


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 10047

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION ON BOMB
THREATS, EXPLOSIVES, OR ANY OTHER LIFE-THREATENING OR
DESTRUCTIVE MATERIALS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Bomb Joke Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The State is committed to safeguarding its citizens from
the dissemination of false information pertaining to bomb threats, explosives, and other life-
threatening or destructive materials that pose risks to life and property. This policy underscores
the imperative of undertaking comprehensive measures to mitigate the harmful impact of such

misinformation and threats on public safety and well-being.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act:

a. Bomb refers to a container filled with explosive, incendiary material, smoke, gas, or
other destructive substance, designed to explode. It can appear obvious or concealed
and can vary in size, shape or sophistication and may not necessarily explode such as
in the case of incendiary and dirty bombs or other such devices. It may be referred to
as Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or ordinance;

b. Explosive refers to any material that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous, release of
gas, heat, and pressure, accompanied by a loud noise when subjected to a certain
amount of shock pressure, or temperature;

¢. High density areas refer to areas which are regularly populated with people, including
public spaces like public parks. airports, seaports, hotels, and malls. or where people
are gathered for an event;

d. Incendiary device refers to a weapon designed to start fires or destroy sensitive
equipment using fire that uses materials such as napalm, thermite, magnesium poser,

chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus;


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e. Life-threatening or destru

ive material refers to any matter or substance that is
capable of causing death, including an explosive: incendiary devi

; poison gas;
mine; grenade; a rocket having a propellant charge of more than four (4) ounces; a
missile having an expl

or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce; any
type of weapon, other than a shotgun or shotgun shell, by whatever name known
which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of
an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than
one-half inch in diameter; or any combination of parts either designed or intended for

use in converting any device into a destructive device described above and from
which a destructive device may be readily assembled; and,

f. Sensitive areas refer to those which are subject to high-risk upon violation of this Act
because of the magnitude of the resulting consequences such as possible losses in
productivity, resources, and religious value, notwithstandi

1g the number of people

present therein, including educational institutions, offices, government institutions,

hospitals, and churches and other places of worship.

SEC. 4. Prohibition. - Any person who, 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, 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 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 6 hereof.

SEC. 5. Apprehension. — Perpetrators shall be apprehended immediately by the security or
authorized personnel of the affected establishments who initially responded to the incident or
n 4 of this Act.

who were physically present at the commission of the prohi

ted acts in Se

The authorized persons of these establishments shall exercise due diligence and care not to
create any further commotion, threat to lives and damage to property. They shall subsequently
report and turn over to the local police authorities the apprehended persons for further
investigation and the filing of appropriate legal actions pursued against these individuals or

groun of violators in accordance with this Act: or

The commission of the crimes under this Act usually transpire in highly populated
locations and establishments where damage will be of substantial impact and timeliness of the
apprehension is a necessary precaution to avoid significant outcomes. The court rule on issuance

of Arrest, Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) under this Act will not apply. However,

2


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apprehending persons, arresting or investigating police officers and other authorized government

authorities shall exercise due process in handling these alleged perpetrators.

‘The perpetrator will not be eligible for bail pending trial by the Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.

SEC. 6. Penalties. ~ (a) Any person who violates this Act shall be subject to imprisonment
of not more than two (2) years or a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos
(100,000.00), o 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, or the stoppage, cancellation or
distuption of any kind of service to the public, or results to death or deaths in relation to the
chaos created herein, or losses in productivity and resources, the penalty shall be imprisonment
of not more than six (6) years or a fine not exceeding Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00), 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. 7. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ Presidential Decree No. 1727, otherwise known as “Declaring

as Unlawful the Malicious Disset

ion of False Information of the Willful Making of Any

Threat Concerning Bombs, Explosive or Any Similar Device or Means of Destruction and

Imposing Penalties Therefor”, is hereby repealed. All other laws, executive orders,

proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the

Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.