I.T. engineer in airport bomb joke released from detention

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 25-year-old IT engineer from Batangas province who was arrested for a bomb joke at the Iloilo International Airport was released from detention.

But it doesn’t mean that Gab (real name withheld) is already scot-free.

Captain Dionisio Estacio, Cabatuan police chief, explained that they have to release Gab after the PNP Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU)-6 was not able to immediately file an inquest case against him.

“The reglementary period of his case is 18 hours. So, when it lapsed at 4:30 p.m. of Dec. 22 and no case was filed against him, we have no choice but to release him from our custody,” he said.

Estacio said that AVSEU-6 personnel even went to Cabatuan Municipal Police Station to inform him that they could not beat the 18-hour reglementary period.

Reports indicated that airport authorities have yet to secure a document from the Cebu Pacific Air which will form part of the papers needed to file a case against Gab.

Estacio said that Gab appeared to be excited to finally be able to go home.

“I think, he knew that the case could not be immediately filed against him. He was able to talk to a lawyer over the phone “ he said.

AVSEU-6 personnel even offered him a ride going to the airport.

Initially, he declined but went with the aviation cops since he had a flight to catch a 6 p.m. the same day.

Gab claimed he will be heading to his hometown in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Gab was detained at Cabatuan Municipal Police Station around 3:40 a.m. of Dec. 22. for alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727 or the “malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar devise or means of destruction and imposing penalties therefor.”

Gab and a co-worker were already inside the Manila-bound Cebu Pacific Air 5J 460 flight when he spewed the “bomb joke” around 9:10 p.m. of Dec. 21

He allegedly uttered, “Nadala naman ang bomba.”

When other passengers heard this, they immediately informed the flight attendants.

“When the crew went to him to confirm, ganun pa rin ang sinabi niya “ Estacio said.

He said the 172 passengers were eventually made to deplane at 9:30 p.m., the time when he was also placed under arrest.

Several minutes later, airport authorities and AVSEU-6 conducted paneling or inspection of the plane and the passengers luggage.

After authorities declared that the area and the aircraft are free from bomb or explosives, passengers were again made to board.

The supposed 10 p.m. flight eventually left around 11:24 p.m.

When Gab was later asked about his actuations, he claimed that it was just a plain joke.

The bomb he was referring to was a “dried fish” he bought in Iloilo.