The Manila International Airport Authority on Tuesday conducted a security drill to prepare people in the event of bomb explosions and other terrorist attacks at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The full-scale drill, according to MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal, was part of the NAIA crisis management plan when bomb explosion occurred at the airport.
Government personnel from the MIAA, National Police, Armed Forces, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureaus of Customs, Immigration and Quarantine, and other agencies attached at the airport, as well as airline operators participated in the emergency exercise.
Monreal said the action plan of the exercise “aims to resolve a bomb explosion incident effectively and efficiently in order to guarantee the fast return to normalcy of operation of the NAIA.”
The scenario was of a car bomb incident at the airport’s parking area where aviation police bomb personnel cordoned off the place.
With the assessment by the bomb disposal unit, the airport’s crisis management committee concerned with the formulation of bomb explosion management policy activated the airport emergency plan to handle the crisis where the area was cleared with non-essential vehicles, equipment, and persons near the vicinity of the explosion site.
“This year’s exercise will be a case of a bomb explosion in the NAIA complex. The action plan of the exercise aims to resolve a bomb explosion incident effectively and efficiently on order to guarantee the fast return to normalcy of operation of the NAIA,” said Monreal.
A canine unit from the Special Operations Unit of the PNP-Aviation Security Group performed “bomb explosion intervention/operation” at the seat of the explosion.
The MIAA provided firefighting and rescue personnel, logistics as well as medical team as support group.
In June 2017, Monreal ordered his key officials to put in place heightened security measures in four terminals of the NAIA in light of the threat posed by members of the extremist Maute Group.
The Maute Group on May 23, 2017 attacked Marawi City resulting in the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
Monreal stressed the need for consistent visibility of security personnel in transport facilities to prevent untoward incidents and to deter lawless elements from conducting activities detrimental to passengers.