MANILA, Philippines — The Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) detained a 58-year-old French passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Friday after he made a bomb threat during the check-in process.
Police authorities said the incident occurred when the passenger was requested to place his backpack on the baggage-weighing counter. When asked about its contents, he immediately replied, "I have a gun and a bomb."
This prompted the airline staff to report the incident to personnel at Avsegroup's NAIA Police Station 2. Officers responded and conducted clearing operations but found no explosives or incendiary materials.
Police said the French passenger was placed under arrest for an alleged violation of Presidential Decree 1727, also known as the Anti-Bomb Joke Law.
He remains in the custody of NAIA Police Station 2 for documentation and the filing of appropriate criminal charges.
BGen. Dionisio B. Bartolome, Avsegroup Director, stressed that bomb-related statements were never treated as jokes at the airport. "We remind all passengers to think before they speak and take airport security seriously," he said.
