NAIA security guards flunk test

International airline executives expressed concern over the alleged lax security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The Airlines Operators Council (AOC), an organization of station managers of 29 different international airlines, noted that some airport policemen and security guards assigned at strategic areas of the airport have failed a recent examination gauging their knowledge of airport security procedures.

The AOC gathered that 27 of the 100 guards from PASSCOR security agency failed the examination last Wednesday.

The tests have been given by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Security and Emergency Service which is conducting airport security seminars on all personnel and employees before they are given access passes.

The AOC said the poor performance of the PASSCOR guards on the tests bolstered their suspicions over the quality of security personnel being hired by MIAA.

PASSCOR was given the franchise to deploy its personnel to maintain security and safety of passengers in flights at the NAIA Terminals I and II and the Manila Domestic Airport.

"These PASSCOR guards have been guarding the NAIA for a long time already so they should already be knowledgeable about airport security matters. They should not have a hard time passing the test," an AOC executive told The STAR.

The PASSCOR security agency, owned by a retired military general and former MIAA official, has been a consistent winner of public bidding conducted by MIAA for security services for the NAIA terminals since the early 1990s.

For his part, MIAA assistant general manager for security and emergency services retired general Angel Atutubo admitted the poor performance of its personnel in the recent NAIA security tests.

"We have already sent out word for them to shape up in security matters. We want them to know that we’re serious about security and we are not happy with the recent results," Atutubo said.

He challenged MIAA to conduct more diagnostic measures to assess the quality of its security personnel.

These tests are necessary since they are meant to correct the inadequacies of the personnel guarding the country’s premier airport, Atutubo said.