Security in airports nationwide strengthened

The Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) has stepped up security in all airports nationwide in light of the terror attacks in Marawi City and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Chief Supt. Sheldon Jacaban, PNP-Avsegroup director, has ordered a nationwide security plan that will intensify foot and mobile police patrols within airport complexes and checkpoints on all entrance and exit points in terminals to ensure the safety of travelers.

Under the security plan, road safety marshals will be stationed in airport terminals and random paneling of special operations unit and K-9 teams will be conducted in passengers’ waiting area, parking lots and cargo areas, said Senior
Insp. Clairamie Sandulan, PNP-Avsegroup public information officer.

Help desks manned by policemen will also be set up in airports around the country to assist travelers, Sandulan said.

The airport police will also supervise all baggage transport to aircraft.

Aviation security units and special units are expected to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies to strengthen the security of all airport terminals in the country and adopt a heightened vigilance in their day-to-day duties, Sandulan said.

Full alert

Jacaban has also placed all airports in Mindanao on full alert status, she added.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it would intensify its monitoring and profiling of passengers passing through the country’s ports of entry to identify people who might pose a threat to national security.

The BI’s port operations division (POD) has been implementing the security advisory since Wednesday, a day after clashes between the Maute group and government troops broke out in Marawi City.

Marc Red Mariñas, POD chief, directed immigration officers to be on alert and step up the monitoring of passengers or persons of interests arriving or leaving the country.

“All border management and security unit personnel on duty shall continue to intensify monitoring and profiling of all passengers or any persons of interest who may pose or [are] considered threats to national security and public order,” the advisory read.

Immigration officers were also ordered to report unusual incidents to POD. —JOCELYN R. UY AND JULIE M. AURELIO