Philippine National Police Initiate Nationwide Airport Security Audit

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced plans to implement a thorough security audit across all airports in the Philippines. This action follows a troubling incident that took place on January 28 at the Iloilo International Airport, where a passenger armed with a knife was shot after attempting to attack a police officer during an inspection.

In a statement made on January 30, the PNP informed the public about their coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and various airport security teams to quickly review current security procedures.

Key Focus Areas The audit will particularly concentrate on existing screening protocols, access control measures, and emergency response procedures to identify and rectify any security gaps that may have allowed a weapon to breach safety barriers.

PNP Chief Gen Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr stated, “We are collaborating closely with CAAP and other airport security units to identify any vulnerabilities and enhance our screening processes, especially in provincial and regional airports.”

Documents show the suspect had plans to travel to Davao but was arrested after trying to assault the police officer at the airport. The individual was shot in the chest and taken to a nearby hospital. Security measures at the departure area had been relaxed in late 2025 to facilitate smoother passenger travel.