Man arrested inside Quiapo Church over bomb joke

A 42-year-old man was arrested after making a bomb joke inside Quiapo Church on Friday morning amid the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

“Kaninang umaga ay may nahuli po tayong isang tao sa Quiapo Church dahil nagbiro po na siya po ay may...about sa bomba po mga around 5:30 a.m. po iyan. Hinuli po siya ng tauhan ng Manila Police District,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

(Earlier this morning, we arrested one person in Quiapo Church because he made a bomb joke around 5:30 a.m. He was arrested by the personnel of the Manila Police District.)

Police said the man allegedly violated Presidential Decree No. 1727 or the malicious dissemination of false information or the wilful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction.

A complaint will be filed against the suspect.

According to the PNP,  it has not monitored any serious and credible threats for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Traslacion, one of the feast’s activities, is a procession of a 400-year-old black image of Jesus Christ from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church where around 2 million devotees are expected to join on January 9.

The celebration of the Black Nazarene feast started on December 31, 2023.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News