SECURITY RESET: Why Iloilo airport may bring back entrance screening

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Jennifer P. Rendon

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Iloilo is reviewing the possible return of initial security screening at the entrance of Iloilo International Airport following a knife-brandishing and shooting incident at the pre-departure area on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

CAAP Iloilo terminal supervisor Arthur Parreño said the measure is being considered to improve early detection of prohibited items and prevent similar security breaches.

“Yes, that is it, the initial screening,” Parreño said in an interview Thursday. “That is also a point that we are considering.”

“We will evaluate and have a risk assessment on whatever is good and the recommendation that we will have,” he said. “We will make sure this won’t happen again.”

The initial X-ray screening at the airport entrance was removed in October 2025 following an order by Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, which aimed to reduce congestion, improve passenger experience and align with international aviation standards.

Under the previous setup, passengers were required to pass carry-on and checked items through X-ray machines before entering the terminal.

Since its removal, passengers have only been required to present a valid identification card and airline booking or boarding pass at entry points before proceeding directly to a single security checkpoint on the third floor, located near the boarding gates.

The review was prompted by an incident at about 4:44 p.m. Wednesday in which a 54-year-old man was shot after allegedly attempting to stab a police officer at the airport’s pre-departure area.

Police identified the suspect as Roland Lañojan, a Cebu-bound passenger, security guard and resident of Sagay, Camiguin province.

According to authorities, personnel from the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) flagged the passenger after he allegedly refused inspection at the central security screening checkpoint inside the terminal.

X-ray screening reportedly detected a bladed weapon inside the passenger’s hand-carry bag, prompting OTS personnel to initiate secondary screening in accordance with standard procedures.

When asked to submit the bag for manual inspection, the suspect allegedly grabbed it from the X-ray machine and fled the screening area.

While fleeing, the suspect allegedly drew the bladed weapon and attempted to stab a police officer several times, prompting the officer to draw his service firearm and shoot the suspect once.

Lañojan was initially taken to the Western Visayas Sanitarium Hospital in Sta. Barbara before being transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Normal airport operations resumed at about 6:30 p.m. the same day.

Following the incident, Parreño said airport security has been heightened through the deployment of additional CAAP security and intelligence personnel.

“As much as possible, that will be the solution in the meantime until we come up with a proper recommendation,” he said.

Parreño clarified that the OTS is responsible for civil aviation security, including passenger, baggage and cargo screening, while CAAP oversees regulatory functions such as licensing, airport operations and air traffic services.

“The X-ray screening is under the mandate of the OTS,” Parreño said. “They are in charge of checking passengers’ baggage and cargo entering the terminal.”

He added that CAAP personnel assist in checking passengers’ identification and boarding passes at entry points to help prevent long queues inside the terminal.

Parreño said CAAP will meet with OTS, the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Unit and other stakeholders to conduct a formal risk assessment and determine whether additional measures, including the return of entrance screening, are warranted.

He said CAAP has already augmented personnel from its Intelligence Service, with additional Aviation Security Unit and private security personnel deployed at check-in and pre-departure areas.

In a statement, the OTS said the incident remains under investigation in coordination with airport authorities and law enforcement agencies.

The agency said the immediate detection of the prohibited item and the swift response of security personnel demonstrated the effectiveness of existing security measures in preventing acts of unlawful interference, including potential threats to aviation safety.

OTS reiterated its commitment to the strict implementation of security protocols to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel.