Laguna exec arrested at NAIA for bomb joke

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay captain of San Nicolas, Laguna was arrested for making a bomb joke while he was about to board an Airphil Express flight for Butuan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) yesterday morning.

Bernabe Cuello Jr., 56, was heard by a security guard at the plane’s door as saying, “There’s no one down there, someone might put a bomb in the wheel.”

The security guard reported the incident to Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG).

Airphil Express pilot Richard Sorolla ordered passengers and crew members to disembark and had the entire aircraft searched by the PNP-ASG’s bomb squad.

NAIA-3 manager Octavio Lina said Cuello was brought to the PNP-ASG headquarters and later charged before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office with violating Presidential Decree 1727.

PNP-ASG chief Inspector Florencio Soriano said if Cuello is found guilty, he could be imprisoned for up to five years and fined as much as P40,000 for causing a three-hour delay in the flight.