Airport security on red alert

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has placed on red alert its security at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Manila Domestic Airport since Saturday morning due to the attempted coup d’ etat launched by junior military officers.

In an interview with The STAR, MIAA Assistant General Manager for Security and Emergency Services General Angel Atutubo said they have deployed about 6,000 security personnel including members of MIAA’s Airport Police Department, the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group, security forces of airline companies, private security groups like the Lanting Security and Watchman Agency and Philippine Aviation Security Service Corporation (PASSCOR).

"We have been monitoring since Saturday in order to give protection to everyone especially the passengers as well as all people going to the airports and all our facilities. No security member has been sent home. Our in and out airport patrol are continuous," said Atutubo.

He added that they secured the areas also to protect people against possible hostage-taking incidents.

Atutubo, who admitted being a member of the controversial military group, the Guardians, said he received reports on Saturday morning about the group’s plan to converge at the Magallanes Center and march towards Makati on Sunday. He said he contacted right away the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters to alert them on the plans.

Atutubo disclosed that the Guardians is a group created by Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan and has several sub-groups.

"No Guardian member assigned in the airport participated with the rally in Makati. I was able to talk to my men soon and convinced them that their job is to secure the airport," said Atutubo.

For his part, Major Restituto Padilla, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said the about 300 soldiers from the 710th Special Operations Wing, were sent to Makati City to augment government forces.

"All our bases are on red alert. The air force is very much on the side of the administration," Padilla said.