Manila airport security on alert after foiled US terror attack

Airport authorities in Manila were placed on "heightened vigilance" against possible terrorist attacks after a terror plot was foiled in the United States last week. However, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado said Monday they decided against instituting added security measures lest these cause unnecessary panic among the public. “Wala tayong pinagbago except direktiba sa screeners to be more vigilant. Ayaw natin magkaroon ng unnecessary panic. While we are aware (terrorists) may strike at any time, there is no need pangambahan ang maamayan, especially Undas, maraming dumarating galing probinsya," Honrado said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (We had no special measures except instructions to our screeners to be more vigilant. We do not want to cause unnecessary panic. While we are aware terrorist may strike at any time, there is no need to agitate the public especially at this time when people come from the provinces to observe All Souls’ Day.) He explained that their measures “are more on the alert side," adding that with the Christmas season approaching, “we cannot let this season put our security down." On Friday, authorities from three continents thwarted multiple terrorist attacks aimed at the United States from Yemen, where some al-Qaeda members are supposedly maintaining a cell. The initial reports said authorities seized two explosive packages addressed to Chicago-area synagogues and packed aboard cargo jets in England and United Arab Emirates. Yemeni police had already arrested a woman on suspicion of mailing a pair of bombs which was said to be powerful enough to take down airplanes. The plot triggered worldwide fears that the al-Qaeda was launching a major new terror campaign. However, deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said there is no special directive to intelligence agencies to double its information gathering efforts. Honrado said he met Sunday night with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group and explored ways to coordinate and “increase our vigilance." At present, he said the MIAA and PNP have bomb-sniffing dogs to detect explosives at the airport. The MIAA is the agency vested with the power to operate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Coast Guard monitors coastline Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday it has tightened security measures in inspecting cargo and monitoring the coastline. “Patitibayin namin lalo ang security measure sa cargo at imo-monitor ang coastline (We have increased security measures in inspecting cargos, and we are monitoring the coastline)," Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said in an interview on dzXL radio. Balilo added they are coordinating closely with the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines on internal security measures. However, he admitted that while bigger shipping companies have established security measures, smaller ones still use the “mano-mano" (manual) system. On Sunday, Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said most key security measures are already in place since an explosion ripped through a passenger vessel in 2004. He also said the Coast Guard is part of the sea marshal program since 2004, where teams with Coast Guard, police and military operatives board passenger ships to thwart terrorist attacks. He also said passengers attempting to smuggle explosives will have to pass through several security layers in seaports, including x-ray, K-9, and other rounds of screening. –VVP, GMANews.TV