Filipino couple apprehended in Hongkong for cracking bomb joke on plane
By Ronron
January 10, 2007

Manila - A Filipino couple was apprehended on Wednesday at the Hongkong International Airport for joking that their luggage contains a bomb, a Manila airport official said.

Angel Atutubo, General Manager for Security and Emergency Services of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said Joselito and Sarah Daza were offloaded from their Cebu Pacific flight 5J11 bound for Manila before noon yesterday after Joselito was heard by a flight attendant saying that there is a bomb in his luggage.

“They were apprehended and offloaded in Hongkong because of a bomb joke, that allegedly there is a bomb in his (Joselito’s) luggage,” Atutubo said.

“Under international aviation regulations, that is not allowed,” he added.

Atutubo said that after a thorough inspection, Hongkong authorities found out that there were no explosive materials on the plane.

“The flight arrived in Manila as scheduled at around 1:30 pm,” he said.

Atutubo said the couple was immediately subjected to interrogation and investigation by airport authorities of Hongkong.

He could not say, however, what sanctions await the Daza’s. But he said that if it happened in the Philippines, they could be jailed for six years and pay a fine.

“We are still awaiting for feedback of the interrogation,” Atutubo said when asked about the condition of the two.

He said he has not talked yet to the couple as of 5pm yesterday./DMS