THE Philippine Airlines management asked passengers to arrive early at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to give them lead time to go through the heightened security being enforced following the Friday night attack in Davao City where 14 people died and 67 others wounded.
“These measures include checkpoints near the airport and longer security checks at the entrance and exit points of airport terminals. Passengers with domestic flights must be at the airport at least two hours before their flight while those with international flights should be there three hours before,” said PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna.
On Monday, security personnel cordoned off one of the entrances of Naia Terminal 3 which resulted in minor inconvenience to passengers after someone left a bag at the site but security dogs only found assorted peso coins, clothes, toiletries, ball pen and mobile gadget charger.
Part of the airport security measure is the inspection of luggage while passengers have to undergo body frisking to ensure no firearms or explosives are brought inside the airport undetected.
National Police-Aviation Security Group director Mao Aplasca appealed to civilians including passengers to report any unattended baggage or suspicious persons roaming inside and outside the airport.
The Manila International Airport Authority is also keeping strict surveillance of passengers within the airport and implement strict car inspection.
The Airport Police Department personnel, on the other hand, manned the entrances of the airport terminals and outer perimeters.
“This is not to alarm the public. We have raised our alert status as a proactive measure to ensure safety and security of airport users,” said MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal.
“We have directed baggage screeners to remain vigilant and discerning and to conduct thorough inspection only when the need calls for it. We do not want to cause inconvenience in the process by creating long lines at the baggage screening checkpoints,” he explained.
Monreal also imposed a no day-off and leave of absence policy, which covers all personnel of the Airport Police Department, as as a matter of procedure during full alert status.
He further advised airport stakeholders and passengers not to be alarmed with increased police visibility within the terminal buildings and outer vicinities of the country’s premier international airport.
“Our K9 units will also be a common sight in the complex under this situation,” the airport chief added.
