The anonymous bomb threat that caused the Philippines to place all of its commercial airports on heightened security alert is most likely a "hoax," according to the head of the aviation police department, who made the statement on Friday, October 6.
Flights from Manila to Davao, Bicol, and the popular islands of Palawan and Cebu were allegedly threatened in an anonymous email sent to air traffic services, as per reports.
'Business as Usual'
After receiving an anonymous email warning that flights taking off from Manila to various tourist locations may explode, authorities requested increased security at 42 airports around the country.
According to Reuters, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said airports had been asked on Wednesday, October 4, to beef up security following bomb threats. Manila officials have reportedly increased safety measures at airport terminals by deploying more police and canine patrols as they verify the danger.
Despite the warning, Manila's major international airport and the country's two largest airlines continued regular operations. Transport Minister Jaime Bautista said that there would be no disruptions to flights.
According to an anonymous source at Philippine Airlines, who was not authorized to talk to the media, things are "business as usual" at the flag carrier and it is following usual protocols.
In a statement by Transport Minister Bautista, there is no anticipation of any effect on any regularly scheduled flights. He wants to reassure those who are traveling that processes are in place to protect everyone's safety and security.
Probably Hoax?
A screenshot of the emailed threat was referenced in a document from the CAAP. It was dated October 4 but was only shared with media outlets on Friday.
The letter did not include the term "bomb" but rather warned recipients to "please beware" because an aircraft would explode at Manila's international airport. It was also predicted that "Cebu, Palawan, Bicol, and Davao will also be hit" in the anonymous email.
More than a million domestic and international tourists visited Cebu last year, making it one of the most popular beach destinations in the area, while over 5 million people visited Bicol in the center of the Philippines.
On Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM (0000 GMT), aviation police commander Jack Wanky acknowledged that a threat had been issued, although he expressed doubt about its veracity. "It's most likely a hoax. Nothing is happening," he stated in a report by Reuters. "Airport operations [are] continuous, it's normal."
The email was first sent to a minor airport in Bicol. The National Capital Region (NCR) Police Department was notified of a similar incident by the aviation police.
Kevin Beachley, an Australian on a business trip, was flying out of Manila on Friday and said he was not concerned. "It's just a simple way of causing a lot of trouble without actually having to do anything other than a phone call," according to him.
Philippine citizen Joy Nequinto was more skeptical, though. "Our security is not that safe, especially in Manila. I do love the Philippines, but sometimes I feel scared at the airport."
