Police beef up airport security amidst report of coup plot

CEBU, Philippines - Security measures have been tightened at the Mactan Cebu International Airport following reports of destabilization plot against the government of President Benigno Aquino III.

Senior Superintendent Constantino Barot Jr., chief of the Philippine Center for Aviation Security in Central Visayas, said profiling of passengers, visitors, and even airport employees is now being done.

All passengers are also required to go through verification process aside from the usual ticket and passport inspections at the gate before the X-ray area. Documents will again go through verification at the check-in counter, immigration counter as well as at the final gate before boarding.

Barot said he plans to meet with other airport officials to further discuss security measures, which he considered as one of the first targets of any attempt to overthrow the government.

Even if the report is yet to be validated, Barot said preparations should be done.

He considered the Mactan airport as vital to because of its strategic location and would be the first target of any coup plotters.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier claimed that some retired generals who remained loyal to former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are reportedly recruiting active soldiers to support a coup d’ ‘etat against the Aquino administration.

The report, however, was denied by Police Regional Office-7 chief Prudencio Bañas and Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command chief John Bonafos. — (FREEMAN)