Area where smuggling happens in airports not among PNP ops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) took “strong exception” to the claim that foreign dirty money is coming into the country through the help of policemen.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) earlier revealed that two suspected syndicates were able to bring in at least $370 million (P18.7 billion) in foreign dirty money in the Philippines.

The couriers were allegedly “escorted by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or of the airport police department at the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).”

READ: BOC confirms $370M in dirty money entered PH with PNP, AFP, airport escorts

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac explained that smuggling happens at the “airside area” of the airports where passengers and cargo are processed by different agencies and this is not under PNP’s jurisdiction.

“The airside area of the airport is not among the areas of operation of the PNP,” Banac said in a statement.

The PNP unit assigned at airports, which is the PNP Aviation Security Group, only provides “general law enforcement and public safety at the landside area of the airport.”

This area is open to the public, Banac explained.

“PNP personnel can only enter the highly-controlled airside areas of the airport when called upon by airport authorities,” he added.

The PNP is seeking a “thorough” investigation on the matter as cops are allegedly involved.

Banac said the PNP can initiate an internal investigation but only after the BOC provides more substantial information or leads to validate the information.