Unattended baggage at NAIA alarms security but tests negative for bomb

MANILA, Philippines — Airport authorities were alarmed over the presence of bags and boxes that were left unattended at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Thursday morning.

A certain Senior Police 0fficer 1 Villar of the Special Operation Unit of the Aviation Security Group said the two boxes and two bags were loaded on a pushcart that was left in front of the left wing passenger entrance at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 1.

The baggages had labels containing the name, address (Marawi City) and cellphone number of the supposed owner but authorities said no one was answering the phone when they tried to call.

Security guard Leilani Sican, who alerted authorities, noticed the bags around 6 a.m. but other people in the area claimed to have seen them around 12 midnight.

The unattended bags prompted policemen to cordon off the area and have the baggages inspected by a K-9.

A policeman from the NAIA’s K9 unit said the bags tested negative for bombs.