NAIA: Airport security no longer allowed to touch passengers’ passports

Airport security personnel are no longer allowed to touch the passengers’ passports during terminal entry following reports of damaged passports, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said on Tuesday. 

“To better protect your travel documents and reduce unnecessary contact, all NAIA security personnel have been instructed not to touch passports during terminal entry and security verification," NAIA said in a statement.

"Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” it added.

The Department of Transportation and the Civil Aeronautics Board have launched an investigation on reports that some travelers were allegedly refused boarding by airlines due to defective passports. 

This was after one passenger claimed that her father was not allowed by Cebu Pacific to board the flight bound for Bali, Indonesia, on April 15 after airline personnel discovered a small tear on his passport.

NAIA said that the recent incident on the torn passport occurred at an airline check-in counter at Terminal 3. However, it clarified that “[t]here has been no report of any mishandling involving NAIA security personnel.” 

“We are working closely with our airline partners, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to strengthen procedures and make sure incidents like this do not happen again,” NAIA added. –NB, GMA Integrated News