ILOILO City — Security protocols at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo came under scrutiny after an armed passenger managed to reach the boarding area with a concealed knife, triggering a shooting incident that briefly disrupted airport operations late Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 4:45 p.m. as passenger Ronald Lañojan, 50, a resident of Sagay, Camiguin, was about to enter the boarding area for Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 4083 5:50 p.m. bound for Cebu, according to the initial police investigation.
Authorities said Lañojan was undergoing routine inspection at the X-ray baggage scanner when airport screening personnel detected a knife hidden under his arm sleeves, prompting the alarm to go off.
Airport personnel immediately informed the passenger that carrying a knife onboard an aircraft is prohibited, but Lañojan allegedly insisted on bringing the weapon with him, prompting security staff to seek assistance from personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at the airport.
Witnesses said the knife was about a foot long.
When police officers responded, they repeatedly asked the passenger to surrender the knife. However, Lañojan allegedly refused and instead brandished the weapon, forcing a police officer to shoot him in what authorities described as an act of self-defense.
The passenger, wearing a black shirt and a black pair of shorts, sustained injuries under the armpit and was rushed to the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in the adjacent town of Santa Barbara for medical treatment.
By around 8 p.m., he was later transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Witnesses said Lañojan had no companion and no luggage, and was carrying only a sling bag.
It was unclear how long he had been staying in Iloilo, where exactly he was staying, and his purpose for being in the province.
Airport operations were temporarily halted following the incident but resumed at around 5:40 p.m., officials said.
In a short official statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed the resumption of normal airport operations.
“The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reports that airport operations at Iloilo International Airport have resumed to normal following a security incident earlier today,” CAAP said.
“The passenger involved is currently undergoing medical treatment. CAAP is coordinating closely with the relevant authorities and is waiting for the official incident report. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available,” the agency added.
The incident has raised serious questions about airport security screening measures, particularly how a bladed weapon managed to reach a critical area of the terminal before being intercepted./PN
