Cebu airport boosts security ahead of holidays

CEBU, Philippines - Expecting a surge in both domestic and international arrivals ahead of the holiday season, Mactan-Cebu International Airport officials have enhanced their security coverage for passengers.

Police Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido, chief of Aviation Security Group-7, said they started to implement heightened security last November 1.

He said this is because some travelers and balikbayans, who wish to spend their Christmas and New Year in Cebu, have started to arrive this month.

“Enhanced security measure po ang pina-patupad natin sa MCIA. Tuloy-tuloy na po ito,” Salido told The FREEMAN yesterday.

The airport police is composed of 59 personnel, including those from its bomb squad and Special Weapons and Tactics team.

Salido said the enhancement alert in the airport also covers incoming events next year such as the Sinulog Festival and the International Eucharistic Congress that will be held between January 24 and 31.

He also said the security boost also aims to prevent incidents of “laglag bala” in the lone Cebu airport.

The Office for Transport Security will be joining the airport police in making sure such a scheme cannot penetrate in Cebu, Salido said.

Jemar Nietes, OTS supervisor in MCIA, said allegations of laglag or tanim bala in Cebu are baseless.

He said he and his colleagues are seeking justice for being “publicly humiliated” as the alleged modus operandi was not yet proven.

Around 134 OTS security screening personnel in MCIA recently tied pink ribbons to their left arms to show solidarity with their counterparts in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila who have been facing allegations connected to the “laglag or tanim bala” scheme.

In Cebu, MCIA Authority General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said though the confiscation of live ammunition rounds and amulets happens everyday, the Cebu airport is still free from such unscrupulous scheme. (FREEMAN)