ILOILO City — Airport authorities are tightening security at the Iloilo International Airport after a knife incident exposed gaps in the terminal’s screening flow, with officials now considering the return of ground-floor X-ray inspections and the immediate deployment of additional police personnel.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) – Iloilo said it is reviewing its passenger screening configuration after a 54-year-old man, identified as Roland Lañojan of Sagay, Camiguin, managed to enter the terminal with a bladed weapon on Wednesday afternoon, January 28.
CAAP-Iloilo Terminal Supervisor and Public Information Officer Arthur Parreño said the agency is open to restoring the initial or first layer of screening at the ground floor — a procedure removed in October 2025 to streamline passenger flow under a directive from the Department of Transportation.
“Yes, as much as possible that will be the solution in the meantime until such time nga we will come up with the proper recommendation,” Parreño said when asked if the first screening would be reinstated.
Under the current setup, passengers enter the terminal at the ground floor and proceed directly to airline counters. Checked baggage is screened “at the back of the house,” while hand-carried items undergo their first and final X-ray screening only at the third-floor pre-departure area.
“Ang hand carry luggage ang gina-screen sa final screening sa third floor while the check-in luggage are screened at the back of the house. If anything is found to be prohibited, the passengers are called upon and verification will issue,” Parreño explained, adding that Wednesday’s incident was “medyo isolated.”
Still, following the incident, CAAP-Iloilo increased uniformed presence inside the terminal starting yesterday, Thursday, January 29, with more Philippine National Police personnel augmenting airport security units.
“May mga PNP kami nga ara na subong naga-duty. Naga-double double na sila including our CAAP Security and Intelligence Service,” Parreño said.
CAAP said it will await the results of the ongoing investigation before convening a full meeting of airport security stakeholders, including the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), the PNP Aviation Security Group (PNP AVSEGROUP), CAAP’s Security and Intelligence Service, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Bureau of Customs.
“Because of the (Wednesday) incident, we are looking forward mga appropriate measures (so that) indi na matabo (again) ang ini,” Parreño said.
Asked whether the incident pointed to a security lapse, Parreño said he could not answer “categorically,” but stressed that protocols were followed once the bladed weapon was detected at the final X-ray screening.
He recounted that security personnel immediately sought police assistance and asked the passenger to surrender the knife, but the man allegedly became unruly, fled, and attempted to stab a responding officer, prompting police to neutralize him.
“Ang pasahero nagsulod and then may bag sia. Gin-inform sia nga indi puede. To make the story short, ginkuha ‘ya (bag) na and refused to surrender. Amo to nagtawag sang assistance sa police,” Parreño said. “Kay mobile sia kag ara sa iya kamot ang kutsilyo and attempted (to stab) sa PNP, ti gintiro na lang sia to neutralize (him).”
The suspect is currently undergoing treatment at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City for a gunshot wound.
In a statement, the OTS said its screening officers immediately detected the prohibited item and initiated secondary screening in line with established protocols. The agency said the passenger seized his bag and fled the screening area, retrieved a bladed weapon, and was shot by police responding to an immediate threat.
“The immediate detection of the prohibited item by its screening personnel and the swift response of law enforcement underscore the effectiveness of existing security measures,” OTS said, adding that the incident remains under investigation.
The PNP AVSEGROUP, in a separate statement, said its officers acted in self-defense after the suspect attempted to stab a responding personnel, stressing that their actions were necessary “to ensure the safety of all individuals present” and that criminal charges will be filed against the suspect./PN
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SECURITY WITHOUT X-RAY. This photo from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ Facebook page shows security personnel conducting manual checks at the ground-floor entrance of the Iloilo International Airport, after the first layer of X-ray screening was removed in October 2025 to supposedly streamline passenger flow under a directive from the Department of Transportation. Inset: Arthur Parreño, CAAP-Iloilo terminal supervisor and public information officer, discusses security measures under review after a knife incident exposed gaps in passenger screening at the airport.
