THE Manila International Airport Authority has deployed security personnel equipped with assault rifles, machine pistols and bullet proof vests.
The armed security personnel from the Airport Police Department are part of heightened security measures at the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following reports of possible terrorist attacks on Metro Manila targets.
“The airport is not under any threat, but the sight of armed security men is good for the passenger’s peace of mind,” said MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal.
Monreal said he wanted the armed security personnel to be highly visible and told them not to use mobile phones or other personal gadgets while on duty.
Some 200 members of the Police-Aviation Security Group are deployed in the four terminals but are not armed.
A 2015 Commission on Audit report said out of 147,041 police personnel, only 124,738 have been issued side arms.
Some 623 PNP officers were using donated handguns while 3,654 officers firearms could not be accounted for or had no record of having been issued service firearms.
The PNP is violating a 1993 National Police Commission order for failure to comply with a one-gun-one-police ratio, the CoA said.
Under the Aquino administration, the budget to buy 12,268 9-millimeter pistols was diverted to buy patrol jeeps, the Crime Data Processing System and an Automated Fingerprint ID System.
On Monday, the National Capital Region Police Office received information that a document was being circulated through social media that a series of bombings would be launched in the National Capital Region.
That memo, dated June 16, spoke of a series of terror attacks planned by the extremist Maute group in Manila, Makati and Quezon City.
Aside from the threat posed by extremist groups, the deployment of heavily armed security men at the airport was also made to prevent a similar incident at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City early this month where 37 people died following an attack by a lone gunman.
Monreal also said that additional CCTVs at the Naia Terminals will be set up. With Vito Barcelo
