RP airports in supertight watch

Following reports that local terrorists linked with Osama bin Laden will bomb vital installations in Metro Manila, the Aviation Security Group (ASG) has tightened security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City, and the country’s five other international airports and 88 domestic terminals.

Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo told reporters yesterday the bureau may acquire machines that can detect whether a passport is spurious or tampered.

"Terrorists use tampered or stolen passports in trying to sneak into the country," she said.

At a recent conference on security attended by top government officials, it was agreed to implement the new rules of the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on what items passengers could bring aboard an aircraft.

Banned were the following items: knives, aerosol products, nail cutters, lighters, and other objects which potential hijackers could use.

Hand-carried luggage has also been limited to 45 inches for each passenger and that each of these should be checked manually and with a metal detector before boarding time.

Police Director Marcelo Ele, ASG commander, heads "Oplan Jumbo," the government task force whose primary responsibility is to secure international and domestic airports nationwide from terrorists out to avenge the US-led air strikes on Afghanistan.

Additional security men from other law enforcement agencies were deployed at NAIA to check all persons and vehicles entering or leaving airport premises.

Security has been tightened around NAIA’s fuel depot, cargo terminals, ramp, and the tarmac to protect the 32 airlines operating there.

Also upgraded were intelligence operations and security coordination between the ASG and other law enforcement agencies.

The command conference was called to review all security measures which had been set up at NAIA in light of the US war on terrorism.

Participants in the conference were top officials of the ASG, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Airline Operations Council, Joint Oil Companies Aviation Storage Plantation, Airport Police Department, and 32 foreign airlines.