Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4030

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE ROMERO “MIRO” S. QUIMBO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A series of bomb scares this February 2014 started on 12 February 2014 when a
bomb threat sent via text messages rattled the normal operations of the Ateneo de
Manila University which led to the suspension of classes and forced evacuation.
Said threat was allegedly a hoax that disrupted even the flow of traffic along
Katipunan Avenue. This was followed by a bomb scare in the University of Santo
Tomas on 26 February 2014 and Saint Paul College Pasig on 27 February 2014.

‘The recent series of false bomb threats is not the first to interrupt an educational
institution. Last June 2013, a reported news about a bomb led to the suspension of
classes in Nangka Elementary School in the Second District of Marikina.! Similarly,
in June 2012, the Lyceum of the Philippines, Manila also suspended their classes
after discovering a note that a bomb will be detonated inside the school premises.?

Bomb threats have also disturbed even governmental institutions. Last August
2013, a bomb threat was received by the Manila City Hall, thus employees were
immediately evacuated. After a thorough investigation, no bombs were found inside
the building.»

Moreover, last October 2013, a bomb scare sent through a phone call alarmed the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which led to the delay of a US jetliner. The
same incident previously happened in the same airport. In April 2012, a bomb
threat was received which led to the delay of a flight bound for Puerto Princesa
City, Palawan. This was found to be a joke between passengers on board the plane.
‘The joke led to the evacuation of passengers and commencement of emergency
response by security personnel and fire and medical teams.>

"om threats here and there — Manila Philipines" Primoscpaths website, une 27,2013. <
-nupwxprimrosepaths.com/201NDe/bombthreats-heresnthere- manila, aecessed February 28,2014
Lyceum ofthe Philippines-Manils nabulabog za bomb trea: Alas smaspind.” Remate website, Octobe 12,2012. accessed February’

25,2014
* fom scare grips Manila City Hall” ABS-CBN News website, August 28, 2013. <Inip Jw abs-chanevs comlnation/nete

smanila08/28/ Mom a
"Bomb hoax at Manila anport slightly delays takeoff of US,

news aso comvncws/stahom>-hass-rania-i ,
5S AiePhil fight aborts ater “bomb threat’ ~ Examiner website, April 12, 2012. < hin wirw examiner com/ericlfsiepiltightaborted-
alterhambthrat, aoessed February 25, 2014,



‘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 its regular activities, economic costs from the opportunity lost
for productivity due to evacuation activities, 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.

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 and/or 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 conveys
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
that 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 view whereof, the expedient approval of this bill is requested.

ROMERO “ ‘8. QUIMBO
spresentative
Second District, Marikina City

‘Bomb Threat Penalties -S.B, 645 ($2): Fest Analysis." Michigan Legislature website, July 15, 2012. <
haps fesslature mi gowddocun 1-200 filnalyseSenatern/200|-SFA-0645-E htm, acessed February 25,2014>.
Genera Laws" The 188" General Cour of the Commonwealth of Massachuset, no dats, <

nips malegisaure goa) Generallatys/PutLV/TitelChapter269/Secton|d, accessed February 25,2014.

Presidential Dectee No, 1727.” Chan Robles website no date. <

npn chanrobles comi/residentialdecresspresdentakdereenol727 hilt wana ldXv0, accessed February 25, 2014>.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4030

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE ROMERO “MIRO” S. 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. TITLE. - This Act shall be known as the ‘False Bomb Threat
Prohibition Act of 2014”.

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. It 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 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 other incendiary device, when such
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
fine of not less than One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than Five
Million Pesos (PS,000,000.00) or both.

SECTION 5S. 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,