Saudi teen who breached NAIA security deported

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported yesterday a 19-year-old Saudi national who was caught roaming around the restricted areas of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Monday.

Hani Bokhari wore a pilot’s uniform when he entered the NAIA Terminal 1’s departure and arrival areas to wait for his father, a former Saudia Airlines pilot, who was set to arrive in the Philippines Monday.

After his arrest, he spent some days detained in the BI detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City.

BI chief Marcelino Libanan said he will not tolerate security breaches at the country’s airports.

Ferdinand Sampol, BI airport operation division chief, said Bokhari was deported last night after the BI found he had an expired visa.

Bokhari was escorted by Saudi embassy officials and BI agents until he took his seat at the Saudia Airlines flight.

NAIA-1 supervisor Teody Pascual said Bokhari created a lot of problems not only to immigration officers but to other security agencies with personnel deployed at the NAIA.

NAIA general manager Alfonso Cusi said he has since ordered all personnel at the airport terminals to be re-oriented, attend more seminars and learn about effective profiling so there would no longer be similar incidents.

He also said that it is time to conduct security reviews.   – Rudy Santos