Avsegroup leads airport safety, security exercise
AN inter-agency tabletop exercise on acts of unlawful interference at the country’s international airports was spearheaded by the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group last week aim to enhance safety and security.
AVSEGROUP director, Brigadier General Christopher N. Abrahano said the tabletop exercise at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 was designed to prepare all concerned agencies and stakeholders in the event of any worst-case scenario at the country’s international and domestic airstrips.
The exercise scenario involved a hijacking incident on a flight from Hong Kong bound for Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
“As terrorists compromised the flight and made demands under the threat of harming passengers” as the scenario says, representatives from various government agencies provided valuable input, meticulously planning their responses based on their respective Standard Operating Procedures.
Brig. Gen. Abrahano was behind the initiative to further boost the AVSEGROUP’s ability to ‘prevent, prepare and respond’ to security threats in the airports.
Officials from the New NAIA Infra Corporation, Manila International Airport Authority, Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Office for Transportation Security, the Pasay and Parañaque City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Special Operations Group, the Philippine Air Force 710th Special Operations Wing and various airport operators actively participated in the tabletop exercise.
Apart from top AVESGROUP officers, other officials who joined the exercise were Undersecretary Crizaldo O. Nievez of the DOTR-OTS, retired Maj. Gen. Ramon A. Ragasa of the NNIC, OTS Director Eugenio B. Paguirigan, MIAA-APD chief Levy R. Jose, AFP-JSOG official Lieutenant Col. Carl D. Liwanag, and PAL Express security manager Jorge Amba.
Brig. Gen. Abrahano said the strong partnership between government agencies and airport authorities contributed to the event’s resounding success.
He also expressed his gratitude to the participating public servants and emphasized the importance of continuing such activities to ensure the safety and security of passengers, stakeholders, and airport users since all of them share a common goal.
