(kaci)
Here’s one less thing to stress about at the airport: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) security personnel have been instructed not to touch passports during terminal entry and security checks as part of a new policy.
“Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said in an advisory.
This change follows the “recent incident involving a torn passport” that happened at an airline counter in Terminal 3, where the passenger was ultimately denied boarding. However, NNIC clarified that the recent passport incident did not involve its security staff.
Last week, Cebu Pacific Spokesperson Carmina Romero
explained
that if a passport is found to be damaged, the standard protocol is to take photographs and forward them to the immigration authorities of the destination country for evaluation. The passenger is only allowed to board if the foreign immigration confirms that the passport will be accepted.
So yes, a torn passport can still ruin your trip—but now at least you know NAIA personnel won’t be the ones accidentally doing the tearing. It’s now up to us travelers to make sure our passports are in good shape before heading to the terminal.
Also read:
What Actually Counts as a Damaged Passport?
DOTr: Tampering with passports will lead to sanctions
In line with this, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon has issued a stern warning to airlines: any deliberate tampering of passports will be met with sanctions.
“We will look at CCTV footage. We will look at actual personal accounts in the airports to make sure that no such incidents will occur. Because if we see reports of these incidents and prove that there are airline personnel behind this scheme, then I am sorry. Sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel,” Dizon said.
Also read:
Online Passport Application Is Coming Soon on DFA’s Website