COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A bomb joke is no laughing matter.
A man realized this after joking that he was carrying a bomb at a public transport terminal in Koronadal City and getting arrested by the police on Monday.
Church-run Radio DXOM-FM identified the man as Renan Lington, 39, a resident of Salansang village, Purok Malakas, Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City, who was to board a Yellow Bus bound for Gen. Santos City.
Reports said that Lington was asked by the security guards at the terminal to open his bag for inspection when he entered the main entrance of the bus terminal. He then cracked a joke, saying his baggage contained a bomb that would explode if touched by anyone.
This prompted the security guards to call the attention of police officers nearby who subsequently arrested him.
Police say Lington is now facing charges of violating Presidential Decree 1727, which declares 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.”
The offense is punishable by up to five years in jail, not more than P40,000 in fines or both, at the discretion of the court.
The presidential decree is not only limited to “bomb jokes” made in airplanes or airports. It also covers “terminals, populated areas, buildings, tenements and other places.”
Lington is now detained at the Koronadal City police office.