IN light of the prevailing military rule in Mindanao, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) had advised all domestic passengers going to Southern Philippines to carry a valid identification card to be presented during airport check-in and preflight boarding.
PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said valid identification cards include passport, driver’s license, Philippine Regulatory Commission, Social Security Service, government-issued IDs like voter’s ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Seaman’s Book, National Bureau of Investigation, police clearance, senior citizen, postal, barangay clearance and those issued by respective barangay, schools and Philippine Statistics Office and birth certificate for a person less than two years of age.
Villaluna said the carrier had also increased security measures in the airports where PAL operates for the protection of the riding public.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-Avsegroup) last week ordered a nationwide security plan to protect the riding public after President Duterte declared martial law for 60 days in Mindanao.
Avsegroup Director Police Chief Supt. Sheldon G. Jacaban said Security Condition 3 (Secco 3) was raised in all airports in Mindanao while Secco 2 was raised to the rest of the airports in the country.
He said the PNP-Avsegroup will undertake the following measures in all airport terminals in the country: intensify security measures through the continuous conduct of police visibility via foot and mobile patrols within any airport complex; man checkpoints on all entrance and exit of airport terminals; deployment of road-safety marshals; random inspection of K9 team at the passenger waiting area, parking and cargo area; and establishment of Police Assistance Desks to assist air travelers.
It will also supervise all baggage transport to aircrafts, saying baggage should be placed in sealed, tamper-evident containers and are properly verified by its personnel.
The airport military unit said special units shall coordinate with other law-enforcement agencies to strengthen target hardening and adopt heightened vigilance and security consciousness in their day-to-day duties.
The aviation-security group encourages the public to provide the police with relevant and timely information through social media.