Murder at NAIA

A Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-ASG) major has been arrested after he shot dead a technical assistant of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Alfonso Cusi right in front of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I building last Monday night.

Maj. Cenon Tenorio, an operations officer for NAIA Terminals I and II, surrendered to PNP-ASG director Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II after shooting dead Eduardo Tiotioen at around 11:45 p.m.

The PNP-ASG turned over Tenorio to the NAIA-National Bureau of Investigation, which filed murder charges against him.

NAIA sources said that before the shooting, Tenorio and Tiotioen had an altercation at the immigration area of the

Terminal 1 arrival area.

Tiotioen had scolded Tenorio for being in the area when he had no business to be there. The major was even accused of escorting a passenger.

Witnesses said Tenorio was visibly angered by the scolding as he left in a hurry from the area.

Tiotioen, known among airport personnel for his gruffness and hot temper, is a MIAA action officer who is tasked to supervise the deployment of baggage pushcart retrievers and porters at Terminals I and II as well as oversee the operations of the closed-circuit TV camera system at both terminals.

After their altercation, Tiotioen radioed his men to locate Tenorio to confront him about the earlier incident.

Informed that Tenorio was just outside the Terminal I building, Tiotioen followed the officer there, only to be shot three times by the suspect, who was armed with his personal firearm, a caliber .40 pistol.

Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas, who, as commander of the 1st Police Center for Aviation Security, is Tenorio’s immediate superior, said the major called him shortly after the incident, expressing his intention to surrender.

Balagtas said that Tenorio did not say anything about shooting Tiotioen after declaring his intention to surrender.

"He just told me, Sir, pasensya na, nagkamali ako," Balagtas told The Star.

Tenorio, it was learned, was the former 1st PCAS commander, but was demoted as operations officer due to an earlier incident where he quarreled with a MIAA policeman.

Airport insiders said Tenorio and Tiotioen had a long standing grudge, arising from several encounters over various matters in the past.

For his part, Cusi denounced the killing of Tiotioen, whom he described as a trusted aide.

"I strongly denounce the ruthless killing of Mr. Eduardo V. Tiotioen, technical assistant of this Authority," Cusi said in a statement. "I know Ed to be someone who is truly committed to his job. My work relationship with him dates back to my stint as general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority.

Tiotioen left behind a wife and a young son.

"When I was appointed to become the general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, I personally asked Ed to join me. I wanted Ed to be part of my team because I know his passion for work. His passion for work is such that nothing can come in between. And Ed did not fail me up to the last breath of his life," Cusi added.

He said the act of violence was an affirmation that the campaign against unlawful activities at the NAIA is taking its toll on certain airport workers who apparently refuse to support our cause. "This is the price Ed had to pay for doing his job."

Balagtas, for his part, said that it was unfair to say that the earlier altercation between Tenorio and Tiotioen arose because Tenorio was accosted for illegally escorting a passenger.

"He was not ‘facilitating’ a passenger. From what I was told, he was then with a fellow police officer who also had an access pass," he said.