MRT passenger finds out bomb joke no laughing matter

A real estate broker is facing charges for making a bomb joke at the North Avenue station of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-Line 3 in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Israel Dizon, 39, a resident of Valenzuela City, underwent inquest proceedings for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1727 or the Anti-bomb Joke Law. He remained detained at the Masambong police station in Quezon City as of Wednesday.

Case investigator PO2 Winston Semaña said that Dizon was arrested at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday after telling a female guard at the MRT station that he was carrying a bomb in his bag. Earlier, the guard accosted Dizon for not presenting his bag for inspection.

He was immediately placed under arrest and brought to the police station.

Under PD 1727, it is unlawful to maliciously spread false information and willful threats concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device. Violators face five years in jail or a P40,000 fine, or both depending on the court’s ruling.