Airport security banned from touching passports
After the Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier warned airline companies against tampering with the passports of their passengers, the private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) has also ordered its security personnel to keep their hands off the travel documents of people seeking entry to any of its terminals.
“To better protect your travel documents and reduce unnecessary contact, all Naia security personnel have been instructed not to touch passports during terminal entry and security verification,” the New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) said in an advisory on Tuesday.
“Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” it added.
The DOTr and the Civil Aeronautics Board are investigating alleged cases of the “punit passport” scheme in some airports, with victims claiming their passports were deliberately tampered with or torn. As a result, they were not allowed to board their flights for abroad.
No mishandling
One of the supposed cases was reported by a woman on social media who said her 78-year-old father was not allowed by Cebu Pacific to board the flight bound for Bali, Indonesia, on April 15, after personnel of the budget carrier at Naia Terminal 3 discovered a small tear on his passport.
The NNIC confirmed that the incident happened at an airline check-in counter at Naia 3, but said that “there has been no report of any mishandling involving Naia security personnel.”
According to the DoTr, Indonesian immigration authorities in Denpasar, Bali, confirmed that the passport of the passenger involved was deemed “damaged and [they] would not have accepted [it] upon the passenger’s arrival.” They added that if he been allowed to board the flight, he would have been denied entry to Indonesia.
Proactive measures
“As the airport operator, and in the spirit of teamwork with all stakeholders, we continue to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all passengers,” the NNIC said.
“We are working closely with our airline partners, the DOTr and the Bureau of Immigration to strengthen procedures and make sure incidents like these do not happen again,” it added.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said that airline firms and their personnel who are found to have deliberately tampered with the passports of passengers would face sanctions.
The DoTr at the same time reminded passengers leaving the country to always check the validity and condition of their passport before traveling, and to consult with passport centers or airport authorities when in doubt.
