(File Photo)
MANILA -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) denies a passenger, who made bomb joke Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), is its employee.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the passenger identified as Saidona Singgon misrepresented himself as an employee of CAAP.
During the passenger boarding of Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR2959 bound for Cotabato, Singgon made a bomb joke, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
Passengers had to disembark, so that authorities could thoroughly inspect the aircraft, Villaluna told reporters, adding that the airline takes this kind of incident seriously.
PAL's crew reported the incident to the PNP Aviation Security Group and its own security team.
Apolonio said Singgon showed a 2012 ID that indicates he is an "Airport Manager III of the Department of Transportation and Communication in ARMM."
"First, we don't know if that 2012 ID is still valid, plus DOTC is now DOTr," Apolonio said.
He added that CAAP immediately disowned Singgon especially so that there is no "Airport Manager III" position in the Authority.
"We have area managers, but we don't have an Airport Manager III. Also, CAAP supervises the airports in the country. It's not the task of the ARMM," he said.
Apolonio, however, admitted that CAAP does not know if "DOTC-ARMM" still exists.
Meanwhile, both Villaluna and Apolonio said Singgon was already questioned by airport police officers.
Under the law, anyone who will make a bomb joke may face a fine of not more than PHP40,000. He or she may also be imprisoned for not more than five years, depending on the court's decision if a case is filed.
Villaluna said PAL appeals to all its passengers to refrain from making bomb jokes.
“Authorities will take appropriate action to safeguard the passengers and all flights," she said. (PNA)
