NAIA, domestic airport beef up security efforts

Security measures were beefed up yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as reports that the terrorist group waging a "war" in Mindanao may bring it to the urban centers.

Military and police, with their K9 sniffer dogs, virtually patrol every inch of the NAIA premises and check all cargoes for possible explosives, and subject all persons entering the airport to strict body searches.

At the Manila Domestic Terminal, all arriving passengers, especially those from the Mindanao area, are scanned by members of the local intelligence community for members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who have been engaging government forces in pitch battles.

The tight security at the NAIA was ordered by Airport General Manager Antonio Gana as chairman of the Airport Security Center following an emergency meeting attended by top officials of the Aviation Security Group (AVSG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and foreign and local airlines.

Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, on the other hand, has issued specific instructions not to allow the entry of foreigners who are suspected of giving aid "to the enemy." The foreigners to be subjected to strict preliminary inspection are those from radical Muslim states perceived to be exporters of terrorism.

Gana said that specific instructions were given to the ASG-PNP and the NAIA police force to ensure maximum protection and safety of all passengers passing through the NAIA.

"The ASG-PNP assumed full control over security checks at the airside where the aircraft movement area is topmost priority." Gana said, adding that the activities of ground handling units are strictly monitored where baggage, catering, refueling and maintenance equipment undergo extra security procedures.

He also said that special operations groups are deployed in critical areas of the terminal to increase police visibility and check unattended baggage for explosive devices.

All security units assigned at the NAIA have increased their personnel, keeping a tight watch on incoming and outgoing vehicles, especially overstaying parked vehicles.

In a corollary move, Gana also suspended the issuance of access passes into the airport to control movements of persons inside the building, saying "at this time when we are experiencing atrocities in other parts of our country, we should not be complacent with what we have at the moment."

Gana appealed for the people's understanding that they are doing all they can for their protection.