Airport police chief now also heads MIAA security, emergency services

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the airport police has been named the the top security official of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Retired police chief superintendent Jesus Gordon Descanzo is now the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assistant general manager for security and emergency services.

Descanzo, who will temporarily be at the helm of the airport police department (APD) in a concurrent capacity, took over the position, which was concurrently held by MIAA senior assistant general manager Vicente Guerzon Jr.

According to the MIAA media affairs division, the MIAA board unanimously approved on Thursday last week Descanzo’s appointment as the NAIA’s top security official based on his credentials and long experience in securing the country’s premier airport.

In a statement, MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado described Descanzo’s appointment as beneficial to the airport management.

Honrado said, “I am confident that Gordon Descanzo is suitable for the job of assistant general manager. With his appointment, the office of the senior assistant general manager can also stay focused on his duties.”

He thanked Guerzon for efficiently juggling two posts, that of senior assistant general manager and of assistant manager for security and emergency services, for over a year.

Descanzo belongs to the Philippine Military Academy batch 1982 and served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He then moved on to the Philippine National Police in 1991, after the Philippine Constabulary merged with the Integrated National Police, and became director of the Aviation Security Group from 2012 to 2013. On his retirement from the police service, Descanzo was named head of the APD.

As the MIAA assistant general manager for security and emergency services, Descanzo will be in charge of the NAIA intelligence and pass control, airport police, and emergency services departments.

Descanzo will concurrently hold the post of APD chief until next month when the MIAA expects to appoint his replacement. SFM