Finger-pointing on Villaruel: Mendoza, guards blamed

There was no breach of security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal 2 when former Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief Col. Panfilo Villaruel and Navy Lt. (sg) Ricardo Catchillar were allowed to enter the Manila control tower. There is only finger-pointing in its aftermath.

This was the statement issued yesterday by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Edgardo Manda, who admitted that while the tower is indeed a highly restricted area that is off limits to unauthorized personnel, Villaruel had been issued a written clearance by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for access to the tower.

Speaking during a live interview with GMA-7 network yesterday morning, Manda said Villaruel had been visiting the control tower at the ATO building even prior to the siege, which ended with the deaths of Villaruel and Catchillar at the hands of a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team.

Manda said a written clearance issued by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Villaruel’s status as a former ATO chief ensured that Villaruel was accorded full courtesy, as well as access to the control tower.

Villaruel, who led the brief standoff at the tower Saturday, was allowed access because he had been conducting some research, Manda said, adding that Villaruel had not been checked upon entry by guards hired from Lockheed Security Agency.

Manda said separate investigations into the incident are now being conducted by the ATO, MIAA and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG).

The ASG led the assault to retake the tower that resulted in the deaths of Villaruel and Catchillar.

Manda also said he had been informed by the air traffic controllers assigned to the tower that their conversation with Villaruel changed as night approached.

"Colonel Villaruel had been there early and he remained there until afternoon, evening and past midnight," Manda said. The air traffic controllers told him that "the tenor of the discussion began to change."

By the time midnight drew near, the air traffic controllers told Manda they were surprised when they heard Villaruel say, "We are ready to die here." They said Villaruel even gave them the choice of joining him or leaving the control tower.

As the hours wore on, Manda said, the air controllers reported that "Colonel Villaruel’s position became harder and harder."

He also said that, if there were any communications coming from Villaruel they were never heard. The ASG special operations unit that stormed the tower, he said, had been in a very tight situation.

The crack police assault team had just blasted open the control tower’s steel door using plastic explosive charges. The blasts may have temporarily deafened the police team so that they could not understand what Villaruel was saying from the other side of the area. — With Marichu Villanueva, Ranier Allan Ronda