The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that it will undertake a comprehensive security audit among the country’s airports.
The announcement came in the wake of an incident at the Iloilo International Airport on Wednesday, 28th January, wherein a knife-wielding passenger was shot after attempting to stab a police officer who sought to conduct an inspection.
In a statement released earlier today, 30th January, the PNP advised the public that it is now coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and airport security units to immediately assess existing procedures.
Necessary inspections
The audit will focus on screening procedures, access point controls and emergency response protocols, as authorities intend to discover any lapses that allowed a weapon into the facility.
PNP chief Gen Jose Melencio Nartatez Jnr declared in the aforementioned statement: "We are already coordinating closely with CAAP and other airport security units. We seek to identify any lapses and how we can strengthen our screening procedures, particularly in regional or provincial airports.”
According to a police report, the suspect from Camiguin was scheduled to fly to Davao on Wednesday, but was shot at the Iloilo International Airport after he tried to stab a police officer responding to a disturbance at the departure area.
The suspect was wounded in the chest and immediately taken to a hospital.
Authorities pointed out that the initial security screening at the departure entrance had been removed in the last quarter of 2025 to streamline passenger travel.
