ILOILO — Alarmed by a recent knife and shooting incident inside the Iloilo International Airport, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has adopted a resolution urging a comprehensive review of existing airport security procedures, while scheduling a committee hearing today in aid of legislation.
The resolution, unanimously approved during the SP regular session yesterday and sponsored by Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque, expresses “serious concern” over the January 28 knife and shooting incident on the airport’s third floor.
It calls on airport security stakeholders to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation and to review security protocols to ensure passenger safety and restore public confidence.
Debuque specifically urged the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Office of Transportation Security (OTS), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Aviation Security Group to examine airport security protocols and inter-agency coordination “in the interest of public safety.”
Debuque said incidents in high-security public facilities like airports are a legitimate concern of the provincial government due to their direct impact on safety and public trust. She stressed that the Iloilo International Airport, which serves thousands of passengers daily, is critical to public safety, mobility, and economic activity.
Debuque also clarified that the resolution does not assign blame, but seeks to establish facts.
“This is to not point fingers, wala kita gatudlo kung sino may sala, may proper process kita; may on-going investigation… our resolution is very restrained and responsible… we just want to express serious concern and urge our airport security stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive review of their policies and a thorough investigation, kay hindi ta pwede ka-hambal nga condemn ta or hambalon nga indi enough ang aton security protocols when we don’t have the details in hand,” she said.
Committee hearing
In line with the resolution, the SP will hold a joint committee hearing in aid of legislation today at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol session halls.
The hearing will be led by the Committee on Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities chaired by Debuque, with the Committee on Public Order and Security, chaired by Board Member June Mondejar, as co-lead.
It will focus on a policy-level review of airport security protocols, inter-agency coordination, and possible gaps that may be addressed through recommendations or legislative action.
“We want to review kung ang protocols nila nasunod, and if we can identify weaknesses, agud mahatagan ta sang recommendations or legislative action. Basically, we are giving voice to the concerns of our fellow Ilonggos,” Debuque said.
Invited resource persons include representatives from CAAP, OTS, DOTr, the PNP Aviation Security Group, and the Iloilo Provincial Legal Office, among others.
Security boost
On Tuesday, CAAP announced that security at the Iloilo International Airport has been tightened even as it assured the public that a repeat of the knife incident will not be allowed to happen.
CAAP–Iloilo terminal supervisor Arthur Parreño said security reinforcements were ordered immediately after an emergency meeting among airport security stakeholders to plug vulnerabilities and strengthen response protocols.
Among the key measures was the deployment of additional personnel from the Aviation Security Group, including an active-duty police officer now stationed beside the X-ray machine on the airport’s third floor for quick response to unruly passengers or threats.
“So that at any given time there would be quick reaction in case a passenger or whoever becomes unruly,” Parreño told Panay News.
Security was also reinforced on the ground floor, with the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) assigning additional personnel to conduct initial checks, including identity and ticket verification and passenger profiling.
The airport’s third-party security provider added more guards, particularly on the third floor, while the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and the Cabatuan Municipal Police Station deployed teams to conduct regular patrols within the airport compound./PN
