Airport personnel upgrade security skills

CEBU, Philippines – Passengers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) are now more assured of their safety and security as airport police are becoming better-trained law enforcers, an official of MCIA said recently.

Capt. Romeo Bersonda, acting assistant general manager of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority said that their law enforcers are now “more competent than before in dealing with evidence, criminal procedure, penal laws, rules of engagement, human rights, custodial interview, narcotics investigation, death and crime scene investigations, crime scene photography and other equally important concerns."

The other day, the first batch of airport police received their certificates as the new graduates of Criminal Investigation Intelligence Detection Course (CIIDC) at the MIP Lounge of MCIA.

Bersonda said the 11 new graduates are lucky enough because not everyone in the airport has been given the privilege to join the rare opportunity to learn important inputs from such competent trainers from the CMT Target Training and Seminars, Inc.

For 45 days, the 11 airport police attended the CIIDC and despite the crucial functions in the airport on their shoulders, they give ample time for them to be updated on the fundamentals and the latest breakthroughs in the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence.

Bersonda said they have their security personnel undergo the said course because as a vital air transportation facility, the MCIA is a potential target for crimes that threaten lives and properties, as well as endanger national security.

“Too often in our society today, people take for granted the importance of criminal law and jurisprudence. They also fail to appreciate the importance of criminal investigation and detection,” he stressed.

This is the reason why when crimes take place, as they often do, the proper procedures are not observed, resulting in the total failure of law enforcement and criminal prosecution, Bersonda added.

With the training, officials of MCIAA hope that the airport will be in a better position not only in combating crime, but more importantly, in preventing it from happening. They hope that MCIA will be more proactive instead of being reactive.

Agencies that are involved in the training are the Department of Justice in Lapu-Lapu City, Public Attorney's Office, National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Human Rights, Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor's Office and the CMT Target Training and Seminars, Inc. – Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)