Personnel of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Unit-Western Visayas have enforced tighter security measures for passengers passing through the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental following a bomb threat received via email by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) late last week.

Police Major Deejay Domingo, chief of Bacolod-Silay Airport Police Station, said yesterday they have been coordinating with the CAAP to ensure heightened security alert.

“We are implementing continuous monitoring. Our troops are on standby with the security forces of CAAP. We have a K-9 unit. A bomb technician has also arrived to help us secure the airport,” Domingo said in a media interview.

He said they are initiating double security checks among passengers and conducting random patrol operations and perimeter security inspections.

“It takes longer, but that way, we can make sure the people are safe and secure,” he added.

Domingo appealed to passengers to refrain from making bomb jokes inside the airport to avoid hassle.

“Follow airport rules and regulations and don’t make bomb jokes. This can delay flights and you can even land in jail or be asked to pay a penalty,” he added.

From the Bacolod-Silay Airport, flights are bound for Manila, Cebu and Clark, Pampanga.

The CAAP placed the 42 commercial airports across the country under “heightened security alert” after officials received a bomb threat via email on October 6.

“A warning received by the Air Traffic Service via email [said] that aircraft from Manila, bound to Puerto Princesa, Mactan-Cebu, Bicol, and Davao International Airports are about to be set off by a bomb. While the information is currently under validation, immediate enhanced security measures are being implemented across all airports,” the CAAP said in a statement. (PNA)