Digong flying commercial ‘added challenge’ to Naia security

The Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) is looking at upgrading security systems and procedures at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in anticipation of President Duterte’s frequent trips home to Davao City on board commercial airplanes.

The acting Avsegroup director, Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, said they were conducting an audit and review of current security systems in coordination with the Manila International Airport Authority, Presidential Security Group (PSG), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and airline firms.

The assessment was aimed at drafting an official set of security procedures at Naia to synchronize the efforts of all airport security forces and clarify their respective roles. “We have to revise, improve and fine-tune the existing system and procedures; possibly make upgrades and remove measures that have not been effective,” Aplasca told reporters.

President Duterte’s decision to take commercial flights to and from Davao City, Aplasca said, was an “additional challenge to the Avsegroup, the airport authorities and the PSG.”

“We would need to introduce additional security procedures and see where the system needs to be enhanced to meet the security requirements in securing the President. We are closely coordinating with the airline companies and the PSG to ensure the President’s safety on his trip from Naia to the Davao International Airport and vice versa,” he added.

Other concerns to be addressed by the security reassessment were possible intrusions through weak points of the physical barriers around the Naia complex, as well as the so-called “tanim-bala” (bullet-planting) extortion scheme.