Stranded passengers crowd NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Over a thousand stranded passengers flocked to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Wednesday night.

The passengers, who were stranded in Metro Manila due to travel restrictions amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, said they trooped to the airport expecting they could get free rides going back to Mindanao and Bohol.

They decided to stay overnight at the NAIA as they waited with other chance passengers for flights, but to no avail.

“Somebody told us there are free PAL (Philippine Airlines) flights bound for Mindanao,” Flor Alonzo, who is from Cotabato, said.

It turned out they were victims of fake news.

Airport personnel advised those who would like to be chance passengers that there is no guarantee for flights.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier announced domestic flights would resume starting today in areas under general community quarantine.

Some local government units, however, are not keen on allowing the resumption of domestic flights, resulting in flight cancellations and passengers getting stranded at the airport.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration distributed pack meals and bottled water to the passengers.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal said they would advise passengers if there will be free flights in the coming days.

Over 100 passengers with air tickets and certificates confirming they are negative for COVID-19 were allowed to enter the airport for their flight to Bohol yesterday.

Meanwhile, budget carrier Cebu Pacific mounted special flights to General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Naga to bring home stranded passengers from Metro Manila.