First of three parts
BECAUSE of social media and overseas Filipinos, many have heard of the bombing at Brussels airport last month. But very few have heard of the antiterrorism law, or Republic Act (RA) 9372.
RA 9372 created the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council (PATC), requiring membership of the secretaries of justice, foreign affairs, national defense, interior and local government and finance. Also a member is the national security adviser. It is currently headed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) is the council’s secretariat. Its support agencies, among others, are the Bureau of Immigration, Office of Civil Defense, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
When any terrorist-related activities arise anywhere in the nation, it is usually the PNP that gives face to the country’s antiterrorism response, with the Armed Forces (AFP) in a supporting role. If the airports were attacked by terrorists, then the PNP’s Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) goes into action.
Within the Avsegroup is a special forces unit whose members are armed to the teeth to confront any terrorist group.
The country’s major airports seem vulnerable to terrorist attacks because of the many individuals who have access to these facilities. How then can citizens be assured that an attack, similar to the Brussels airport bombing, will not happen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)?
“We have preventive measures in coordination with other agencies at the airport,” Chief Supt. Francisco Balagtas, Avsegroup commander, said. Aside from the Naia, Balagtas said his men are present in all the other major airports in the country. However, far-flung airports that are among the 80 other airports in the country are manned not by Balagtas’s men but personnel from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap).
These community airports are used by general aviation or charter airlines and are maintained by the Caap. Commercial airlines could have access to these airports in cases of emergency.
“Before anything else, negotiation should be the first move,” Balagtas said, adding that there’s a special team in place, trained abroad to handle negotiations.
He said his men are also working with their counterparts in other countries to provide assistance in terms of negotiating with terrorists.
Balagtas said the Avsegroup is in close coordination with the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Clark Airport Authority, Metropolitan Subic Bay Authority and the Caap.
He said if something serious occurs in any of these agencies or far-flung airports like in Mindanao, aviation security-trained troopers of the PNP Special Action Force could be airlifted by the Air Force.
Balagtas said that, aside from the Avsegroup, the Naia has also its own police department, while the 40-member Airline Operators Council have their own privately hired contractors.
“The Avsegroup, in partnership with them, has already in place security measures to address threats of terrorism,” he said. He added that the other major airports, headed by their own terminal managers, have their own emergency services to address security issues.
“What’s important is coordination among different agencies, Balagtas said.
He pointed out that at the Naia complex, they focus on three major points—called the “landside”—where passengers and visitors come. These areas are where passengers, visitors and their belongings are subjected to various security checks. Even their cars are subjected to cursory scrutiny.
Since there are too many visitors and passengers going to the premier airport, not all of them could be personally managed.
“That’s why policemen, sometimes clad in black tactical clothes and armed to the teeth, provide the high visibility necessary for deterrence.”
He said having left the landside and enter terminal, the visitors and passengers go into the “airside” section where they are subjected to body check and another round of security measures.
He said passengers undergo several body checks before reaching the airplane, whose carriers have their own security procedure.
“When the airplane has taken off, you can be assured that all the occupants have been cleared and a passenger can relax,” Balagtas said.
The aerodrome side is the airport complex where aircraft, aerobridges, luggage area, and the nooks and crannies are secured by airline private guards, according to Balagtas.
The Avsegroup, composed of armed men in all-matte black uniform, is also part of the agencies that monitor them. Some of them could be seen boarding vehicles, sometimes with a K-9 team in tow to sniff out bombs.
“Our most powerful equipment is our trained personnel from the aircraft operations department and our K-9s,” Balagtas said.
Meanwhile, the general aviation area, located somewhere in the airport complex, is manned by the Caap agents, starting at the gates and supported by the Avsegroup.
He said the Avsegroup is working on a plan to have his men deputized by the Caap to secure the General Aviation areas, as well. “There’s no such thing as complete manpower for determined terrorists,”
Balagtas said.
“Our strength against terrorists is enough to address any threats, in coordination with other law-enforcement agencies.”
Balagtas, however, prefers to add more into the current roster of the Avsegroup.
He also rues that the Avsegroup is not in control of the hundreds of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the Naia complex. Some 700 are installed and spread out at the four passenger terminals.
It is the Miaa’s Office of Transportation Security that is tasked with monitoring the CCTV images.
“We have no control over the CCTV, at the moment, but we are requesting the Miaa and the Caap to allow us access by allowing some of my men to monitor them.”
Balagtas explained it is the OTS that monitors the CCTV and the x-ray machines at the Naia. The Avsegroup only coordinates with the agency. “If we have access to the CCTV [network], perhaps, we can determine if there’s someone planting bullets.”
It is only the CCTV that can tell us where this incident happened and who are the people involved.
“It’s a big help” both to the passengers and to us who ensure their security, according to Balagtas.
To be continued
Image credits: AP