MANILA, Philippines – All security personnel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are no longer allowed to touch travelers’ passports.
The rule applies when a passenger enters any NAIA terminal and when they go through security verification.
“Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” NAIA said in a statement posted by the new private operator, New NAIA Infra Corporation.
This comes over a week after a passenger was initially denied a boarding pass by a Cebu Pacific ground staff because of a small tear in his passport that no one had noticed before. However, when they tried checking in via the senior citizen counter — they were issued with one.
The passenger still ended up being blocked from boarding plane to Indonesia. But other airport staff still said that his passport was fine, causing further confusion.
Cebu Pacific defended their ground staff’s action, saying foreign immigration authorities may deny entry to passengers with “even a minor tear” in official travel documents.
Indonesian immigration authorities reportedly confirmed with Cebu Pacific that the concerned passenger may be denied entry as his passport was already considered damaged.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation told airlines to make sure their personnel do not tamper with passports following the incident as the passenger’s family alleged that ground staff may have caused the small tear.
“Kung may makita man tayong ganung insidente, kung may gumagawa ng ganitong kalokohan, sorry na lang (If you ever notice incidents like that, if they cause trouble, then I’m sorry). Sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel,” Transport chief Vince Dizon said.
The passenger has since filed a formal complaint with the Civil Aeronautics Board. – Rappler.com