Man jailed over bomb joke

BY BAM LUCES

BORACAY – A 50-year-old man was recently arrested by personnel of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO) over a false bomb threat.

Junny Pahimuyan of Brgy. Igang, Pototan, Iloilo will be charged for violating Presidential Decree 1727, according to BSTPO Investigator PO2 Ariel Naral.

Pahimuyan was nabbed about 4:45 p.m. on November 2.

PO2 Pat Joenard Belermino and SN2 Hope Parreño, members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Boracay on duty at the Passenger Assistance Center in Boracay Cagban Jetty Port, earlier noticed Pahimuyan and a porter carrying two boxes.

The PCG members were suspicious of the boxes which were wrapped by a packing tape.

Without passing the passengers’ area, Pahimuyan and the porter brought the boxes to the MBCA Roselyn boat bound for Caticlan Jetty Port, they said.

Belermino and the boat captain approached Pahimuyan and inquired about the contents of the box.

“Ano na, bomba? (Is that a bomb?)” asked the boat captain. Pahimuyan shouted, “Huo, bomba ini (Yes, it is).”

Pahimuyan’s response caused panic in the area, police said.

The PCG members held and ordered Pahimuyan to put the boxes down for verification.

Pahimuyan was acting arrogantly while the boxes were being opened, according to Belermino and Parreño.

They found nothing but kitchen utensils inside the boxes; there was no bomb.

Belermino and Parreño asked the BSTPO to arrest Pahimuyan.

Pahimuyan was subjected to an inquest the other day in Kalibo, Aklan.

But Pahimuyan, assisted by Atty. Flosemer Chris Gonzales of the Public Attorneys’ Office, executed a waiver of detention pending preliminary investigations.

Pahinuyan later admitted that he was drunk and did not think that his joke would cause a commotion, police said.

Pahimuyan, temporarily residing in Brgy. Yapak here, is currently detained in the lockup cell of the BSTPO./