You probably have heard that on 12 April 2012, an Airphil Express flight bound for Puerto Princesa (Palawan) was forced to abort take-off after a passenger said something about an explosion. The pilot requested for assistance from the airport police, resulting to a 4-hour of the plane and the baggage. No was found but the flight was extremely delayed. The subject passenger was not allowed to board and police authorities said he will be charged under the Anti-Bomb Joke Law.

Yes, you heard it right — making “bomb jokes” in a plane may result to criminal prosecution. This kind of utterance, even if meant as a joke, is covered by Presidential Decree No. 1727, commonly known as the Bomb Joke Law. “Pranksters” are covered.

The form of communication could be by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication. And it doesn’t even matter if the culprit didn’t read the warnings or signs at the airport relating to “bomb jokes”. This is not one of those instances when ignorance if bliss.