A routine security screening at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 escalated on Saturday, December 20, after a departing passenger made a remark referencing an explosive, prompting an immediate security response and the traveler’s removal from the flight.
According to the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup), screening officers were conducting standard checks when they asked the unidentified traveler about the contents of his bag. He responded, “May dala akong granada (I am carrying a grenade).”
Security protocols were activated on the spot. Avsegroup dispatched its Explosive Ordnance Disposal team along with a Canine Unit to examine the luggage and surrounding area. After a thorough inspection, authorities reported that no explosive devices or hazardous materials were found.
Despite the negative sweep, the airline involved removed the passenger from the manifest and barred him from boarding the Singapore-bound flight. The carrier also placed the individual on its internal blacklist, preventing future travel with the airline. Management chose not to file a formal complaint, but the offloading stood.
Avsegroup chief Dionisio Bartolome underscored that remarks involving bombs or explosives are unacceptable in airport environments, reiterating the unit’s strict enforcement stance and its mandate to act swiftly to protect airport operations.
The incident falls under Presidential Decree No. 1727, which criminalizes bomb jokes and false bomb threats in the Philippines, carrying penalties that may include imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to ₱40,000, or both, subject to court discretion.
