MCIA to have stricter security measures

Stricter security measures will be adopted at the Mactan Cebu International Airport following claims by a counter-terrorism expert from Manila that he was able to smuggle bomb components on board a Manila-Davao flight.

Newly appointed MCIAA general manager Danilo Francia said that part of the intensified security measures he has ordered is that all airport employees, including officials, should be subjected to security inspections.

Francia said that he himself will go through the security inspection even if he is the general manager.

"I don't excuse myself," Francia said, adding that he is also in the process of integrating the different departments at the MCIAA to ensure that everybody does what is expected of them.

Although he ordered stricter security measures at the airport he will still continue issuing temporary passes saying that public service should not be compromised by the security measures that they are implementing.

The public is wary of the airport security following the claim of counter-terrorism expert Samson Macariola that he was able to bring in bomb components to Davao City where he was invited by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to conduct counter-terrorism training.

Duterte, who is President Gloria Arroyo's anti-terrorism consultant, confirmed that he invited Macariola but denied having sanctioned him to conduct the test mission.

Francia also assured the public that the ongoing infrastructure projects at the airport will be completed before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December. Among the ongoing projects at the airport is the construction of the VIP lounge, which will be used in receiving the delegates from the different ASEAN member countries.

Francia described his job in the airport as a "great challenge."

He replaced retired general Adelberto Yap who was sacked by the MCIAA board because of alleged anomalies at the airport. - Fred P. Languido