NBI checks security measures at NAIA in aftermath of ‘terror expert’ incident

The tight security at the airports makes it virtually difficult for anyone to sneak in explosives, much less assemble a bomb inside an airplane, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday.

NBI-Special Task Force chief Arnel Dalumpines said the tight security measures at the Manila Domestic Airport and other airports in the country belied claims by self-proclaimed anti-terrorism expert Samson Macariola that lax security had enabled him to smuggle bomb components aboard a plane.

Dalumpines said a report made by Darwin Francisco, one of the investigators probing the case against Macariola, showed the high security level at the airports.

He said Francisco decided to check out the veracity of Macariola’s claims by inspecting all the security measures at the airport by himself.

"Francisco inspected the routine, to check the procedure particularly the X-ray machines. The bomb parts such as the wires attached to the cellular phone and the blasting cap would have been seen through the X-ray machines because they are made of metal,"

Dalumpines said.

Dalumpines though admitted they could have used a C-4 explosive to see if it would pass through security but failed to acquire one.

Instead, Francisco decided to see how he could possibly bring in any item that could possibly raise an alarm.

Francisco said he was made to remove his shoes and belt.

He said that even famous personalities were made to remove all metallic items and liquids upon check-in of their luggage.

Macariola earlier denied carrying out a security-alert check that caused panic in all airports nationwide.

In a three-page statement he personally submitted to NBI-Special Task Force (STF) regional director Reynaldo Esmeralda, the self-styled bomb expert maintained that he did not bring any explosives when he boarded the flight to Manila from Davao on Aug. 14.

Macariola also denied the story that came out in a broadsheet that caused the fiasco.

He denied making any statement to the reporter, Arlyn de la Cruz, that he had brought live bomb materials inside the plane.

Macariola claimed the video supposedly showing him assembling the bomb inside an airplane was only for "training" purposes.

De la Cruz, for her part, claimed she had witnesses to corroborate her story.

"But nobody is supporting her claim. They (supposed witnesses of De la Cruz) have not appeared even after we have issued subpoenas to them to give us their statements," Dalumpines said.

Dalumpines noted De la Cruz, a journalist for 16 years, "had no recorded conversation or notes to back up her story."

"She should have a video of her interview with Macariola considering she was making a sensitive report," the NBI official said.

There is also the matter of confusing dates, Dalumpines added.

De la Cruz told the NBI investigators that Macariola boarded the Manila-bound airplane on Aug. 5 from Davao.

Dalumpines said Macariola’s name did not appear in the flight manifest on that day, but on the following day, Aug. 6, on a flight from Manila to Davao.

He said Macariola even surrendered two firearms upon checking in.

As to reports that Macariola made the stunt on Aug. 14, Dalumpines noted De la Cruz was not being consistent.

The reporter claimed Macariola was wearing a jacket at that time but it turned out he was only wearing a T-shirt, Dalumpines said.

NBI investigators asked Macariola to appear again before the panel and produce his training video.

Dalumpines said the investigators wanted to take still photos of portions of the supposed training video to support their documentary evidence.

He did not say if Macariola would be charged.