Miaa to airline passengers: Don’t bring prohibited items in your luggage

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authorities (Miaa)  on Tuesday reiterated its call on passengers not to bring prohibited items on their luggage after a Filipino student was intercepted in Hong Kong’s airport last Jan. 8 for bringing in a prohibited item.

Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal urged the public to be aware of the guidelines of the airline they are taking as well as the policies of the country they would be visiting in order to keep their travel hassle free.

According to Miaa, the Filipino student was bound for Canada when he was intercepted by Hong Kong airport authorities.

The unidentified student had extendable batons in his check-in baggage. Under the firearms and ammunition law of Hong Kong, stunning devices such as extendable batons are considered as “arms.”

In addition, Philippine airport security personnel intercepted during initial screening, two flick knives belonging to an Israeli and a Filipino who were both Hong Kong-bound passengers.

Monreal is appealing to passengers to be extra careful when packing their luggage when going abroad.

“It is wise to check with the airline what they can and cannot bring on board. The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) has a list of prohibited items that they can also use as guide in packing their bags,” Monreal said in a statement.

Under the list of the OTS, firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles, stunning devices, sharp objects, workers’ tools, blunt instruments, and explosives and incendiary substances and devices are prohibited inside the airport.  /muf