MANILA: An anonymous bomb threat that prompted the Philippines to put all its commercial airports on heightened security alert is “most likely a hoax”, the aviation police chief said on Friday (Oct 6).
Authorities ordered 42 airports across the country to step up security after receiving an anonymous email threat that planes flying out of Manila to several tourist destinations could explode.
Despite the alert, the country’s main international airport, in Manila, and its two biggest airlines were operating as normal, and Transport Minister Jaime Bautista said no flight delays were expected.
Extra police and canine patrols were deployed at Manila terminals as part of “immediate enhanced security measures” at airports, authorities said, adding the threat was being verified.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) said airports had been ordered on Wednesday to step up security “following bomb threats”.
It added air traffic services received an anonymous email about a threat to flights from Manila to Davao, Bicol and the tourist regions of Palawan and Cebu.
In a memo dated Oct 4 but released to media on Friday, the CAAP referred to a screenshot of the emailed threat, which did not contain the word “bomb” but said “an airplane will explode” at Manila’s international airport and “please beware”.
“Cebu, Palawan, Bicol and Davao will also be hit”, the anonymous email said.
One of the region’s most popular beach destinations, Cebu saw more than 1 million domestic and foreign travellers last year, while Bicol in the central Philippines saw nearly 5 million, according to the tourism department.
Aviation police chief Jack Wanky confirmed that the threat was sent at about 8am on Wednesday but he said he was sceptical about it.
“It’s most likely a hoax. Nothing is happening,” he said. “Airport operations is continuous, it’s normal.”
SECOND THREAT IN A WEEK
Eric Apolonio, spokesperson for the aviation authority, said the threat was the second at a Philippine airport since Monday, when a Manila-bound flight aborted takeoff at Bicol airport after the pilot discovered a scrap of paper in the plane’s toilet with the word “BOMB??” written on it.
All 133 passengers were ordered off the plane to undergo security checks, while an incoming flight was sent back to Manila as Bicol airport authorities closed the runway and suspended flight operations, Apolonio said.
The authorities later concluded it was a “joke” and the plane was allowed to take off nearly four hours later, he said.
Apolonio would not comment on whether the authorities suspected the Monday and Wednesday threats were related.
An Australian business traveller flying out of Manila on Friday, Kevin Beachley, said he was not concerned.
“It’s just a simple way of causing a lot of trouble without actually having to do anything other than a phone call,” he said.
Philippine citizen Joy Nequinto was more wary, however.
“Our security is not that safe, especially in Manila. I do love the Philippines, but sometimes I feel scared at the airport.”
A source at Philippines Airlines, who declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to media, said the flag carrier was operating “business as usual”.
A spokesperson at Cebu Pacific Air said the airline was “following usual protocols”.
“No expected impact to any scheduled flights and we would like to ensure the travelling public that protocols are in place to ensure everyone’s safety and security,” the transport minister said in a statement.
Source: CNA
