The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is reaffirming its commitment to enforce its mandate requiring all passengers, including those boarding private aircraft, to undergo security checks at designated terminals.
This mandate applies to all passengers in accordance with Memorandum Circular 005-2023.
CAAP Director General Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo directed all Area Center Managers and Airport Managers to supervise the processing of all documentary and security requirements for arriving and departing passengers at the airports operated by the agency, except for military flights.
The policy emphasizes CAAP’s dedication to upholding the highest standards of aviation security.
The strict implementation of the memorandum was commended by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during his visit to Laguindingan Airport on Tuesday.
Abalos himself underwent comprehensive security screening at the terminal, which demonstrated the effective execution of the policy.
The Memorandum Circular, issued in February last year, was prompted by Senator Raffy Tulfo’s advocacy for ensuring that even “VIP” passengers undergo the same comprehensive screening as regular passengers, thereby enhancing security and preventing potential illegal activities.
CAAP made the statement amid the controversial departure of ousted Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo.
Guo left the country traveling first to Malaysia, then to Singapore, and eventually to Indonesia where she was arrested.
Immigration authorities stated that Guo and her supposed siblings, Shiela and Wesley, did not leave the country through the usual ports as claimed by Shiela, who testified in a Senate hearing that their group departed the Philippines through a series of boat trips until they arrived in Malaysia.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla raised concerns that similar to the ‘Pastillas Scheme’ in 2020, some immigration officials might be involved in sneaking people in and out of the country. The “Pastillas Scheme” involved bureau personnel receiving kickbacks to facilitate the entry of Chinese nationals by paying a “service fee” of P10,000 per head.
Remulla criticized Immigration chief Norman Tansingco for allegedly not informing the DOJ about the developments in the hunt for Guo and other individuals involved in illegal activities.
Tansingco claimed he had received information about Guo’s escape but waited for confirmation before sharing the report.
“That is why we no longer talk. It was wrong of him not to inform the DOJ secretary of developments in his agency,” Remulla said.
Guo is facing complaints from various government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Solicitor General, including qualified human trafficking, tax evasion, and money laundering. The first complaint filed, human trafficking, may be resolved by the panel of prosecutors by Friday.
