By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — All airports in the country are on “full alert” following the Jolo church bombing last January 28, Napoleon Cuaton, head executive assistant at the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.
Cuaton said the OTS is still evaluating when it could lift the “full alert” status which was declared few hours after the incident.
He clarified that pertinent security measures are being observed even if the public wouldn’t see additional staff or K-9 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), for instance.
Under “full alert” status, OTS security officers, regardless if they are regular or contractual employees, are not allowed to take vacations or leave.
“We did not deploy additional staff. Because ‘full alert’ means security measures are in place, and that we shouldn’t relax,” he remarked.
Cuaton said among the security measures being done during “full alert” is asking the passengers to remove their shoes.
“We are very strict. If our staff would see something blurry in the bag’s X-ray, he or she would ask the passenger to open it,” he added.
K-9s and X-rays are also in place in the conveyor, he said.
Cuaton noted that the public should understand that they might experience “hassle” due to the heightened security measures but this is also for their own good, he said.
