KEPRES
Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

> RECEIvED @
© ore 25 WL 2017

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no.6044

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the wake of bombings in the cities of Manila and Davao which claimed the
lives of almost 30 individuals and injured a hundred more, bomb threats, even if
empty and unverified, instantly sow undue alarm and panic to citizens, create
public confusion, and disrupt regular business affairs resulting in reduced
productivity and wastage of the government's law enforcement emergency
response resources. While hoax bomb threats are often credited to unlawful
elements that intend to propagate fear among the populace, the same are also
made material of jokes cracked in poor taste.

This year alone, several government offices had to suspend work due to
apparent bomb threats. Recently, an unattended baggage left outside the
headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame disrupted
operations while an unverified phone call about a ticking bomb suspended work
at the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) in Manila. An unsigned police
memorandum warning of planned bombings in major malls across the country
also went viral on social media and roused paranoia. All of them proved fictitious

This bill aims to curtail the alarming frequency of fake and malicious bomb
threats that recently menaced major public and private establishments in the
country by repealing the outdated Presidential Decree No. 1727 “Declaring as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’ first enforced almost 40 years ago,
and superseding it with a duly enacted law which expands the coverage of the
current prohibition and imposes heavier penalties.


Currently, PD No. 1727 penalizes the willful dissemination of any false threat
concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to use explosives, incendiary devices,
and other destructive forces to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual, or damage
any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property. In contrast, this bill
makes it unlawful to willfully communicate or cause to be communicated any
false bomb threat regardless of its ultimate aim.

As a counterpart bill to Senator Poe’s version in the Senate, this bill also
proposes graver punishment 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 (P5,000,000.00), or both to convicted violators.

Bogus bomb threats undermine the State's serious efforts to preserve peace and
order in society, and protect all Filipinos from needless anxiety. The confidence
of the people in their law enforcement and intelligence agencies also comes
under fire every time the security of their persons and properties is threatened. It
is high time that a law is enacted to reduce, if not put to an end, to this form of
public deception.

In consideration of the foregoing premises, the approval of this bill is respectfully
sought.

“Ls

LUIS, MUND Y" F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6044

_—
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PENALIZING THE DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION AS TO 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 2017.”

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 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.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) “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; and


b) “Sensitive areas” shall refer to those which are subject 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 4. Prohibition. — No person shall willfully 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
through an electronic mail, internet communication device or by any 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 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 willfully communicates or causes serious public

inconvenience or alarm.

SECTION 5. Penalties. — Any person found guilty of violating this Act or any
ules 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 (P5,000,000.00) or both

SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,