Fake Saudi pilot detained at BI

MANILA, Philippines - Hani Bokhari, the 19-year-old Saudi national who claimed he is a student of a flying school in Pasay City, who entered the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by wearing a pilot’s uniform and was arrested by airport immigration agents Monday night is now detained at the BI detention center in Bicutan.

Bokhari lost consciousness after spending a night at the airport’s Day Room without taking any food, according to Gemma Laurel, the head of the facility.

Ferdinand Sampol, immigration Airport Operations Division chief  in his report to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan Monday night, said Bokhari  was able to do so by wearing a pilot’s uniform and carrying an identification card of Saudia Airlines retirees dependent card.

Bokhari, a suspected terrorist was charged with breach of security and for overstaying because his passport showed that he carried an expired visa, is an overstaying alien and subjected for deportation, Sampol said.

Further, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Alfonso Cusi said police investigators are now at the final stage of charging Bokhari of felonious deceit for misrepresentation by claiming he is a pilot.

Cusi, thru his spokesman Tirso Serrano, head of Airport Development and Corporate Communications said the security breach is a serious concern and they cannot let go of the fact that MIAA personnel need to discipline those who failed to abide by the directives of the MIAA.

Serrano said that there will be a training of all security personnel so that they will recognize the profiling thru continuous training and re-training, reminders and advisories. He also said that this is to remind people that they cannot let their guards down. It is high time to conduct security reviews in anticipation of new threats brought about by new technologies.