REGIONS IN BRIEF

BOMB JOKE SENDS PASSENGER TO JAIL

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Airport police arrested a man after he joked that he was carrying a bomb inside a Manila-bound passenger plane. Police said Kim Castillo, who works at a shipping company in Dubai, was detained after flight attendants informed authorities about it. The 45-year-old Castillo said he was only joking when he told a flight attendant to be careful with his bag because it contained a bomb. “I was only joking and not aware that it is against the law,” he said. Police said the flight was delayed after authorities searched the aircraft for bombs. It said the law is contained in Presidential Decree 1727 which is often referred to as the “Anti-bomb Joke Law’ or “Bomb Joke Law.” It carries a penalty of five years or a fine of P40,000 or both at the discretion of the court.