CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT—A “serious security breach” at this airport last week has prompted the head of the Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac) to order a review of the security procedures.
Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Ciac president and CEO, ordered a review of the airport access-control security procedures, after an unauthorized person was able to evade security personnel and managed to reach the airport ramp.
A former airport executive described the incident as a serious security breach following an access control-security lapse, which allowed the unauthorized individual to reach the restricted areas of this airport.
Tanjuatco said a security audit and thorough assessment of the airport-security program will be conducted by the Airport Security Quality Control Office (ASQCO).
Tanjuatco assured the traveling public that despite the incident, “everything is under control and steps are being undertaken to enhance existing airport-security measures and procedures.”
A report from the Ciac’s Airport Security Police Department said on August 3, Jonah Howell Melo, 34, of Camelia Subdivision, Imus, Cavite, entered the airport terminal building through the arrival exit lobby reportedly looking for his wife, whom he assumed was an arriving passenger.
Melo ascended to the second floor of the terminal, advanced to the boarding bridge and exited down to the north ramp through the boarding-bridge ladder and approached the aircraft.
Melo was arrested by airport and airline security personnel as he moved toward the departure exit gate.
He was turned over to the National Police-Aviation Security Unit 3 for further investigation and filing of charges. Melo is currently detained at nearby Mabalacat City Jail.
The National Police-Avseu3 and the Clark Airport Security Police Department are conducting separate investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, three airport security personnel were relieved from their present assignments while several others were reassigned following the incident.
