Security Screening Officers (SSOs) from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) successfully intercepted dismantled components of an airsoft gun at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on January 4, 2026.
The items were discovered inside the checked baggage of a passenger booked on Cebu Pacific flight 5J 657 bound for Tacloban.
The detection occurred during routine security screening at the airport’s baggage make-up area. The timeline of the interception is as follows:
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Detection: X-ray Operator SSO Ace Rivera flagged a suspicious image resembling firearm components within a passenger’s check-in luggage.
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Coordination: Checkpoint Supervisor Johny Dulnuan immediately alerted the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP AVSEGROUP) and airline representatives.
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Verification: The passenger was escorted to the baggage area to witness the manual inspection. Baggage Inspector SSO Paul Vincent C. Paulino conducted the search, uncovering various dismantled parts.
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Confirmation: PNP AVSEGROUP personnel on-site confirmed the items were components of an airsoft gun.
Following standard protocol, the passenger and the intercepted items were turned over to the PNP AVSEGROUP for proper disposition and further investigation.
This successful operation underscores the OTS’s commitment to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to maintain the highest standards of safety, security, and passenger comfort across all national transportation hubs. “Our screening officers remain vigilant in their duty to ensure that prohibited items do not compromise the safety of the riding public,” the OTS stated.
The public is reminded to review the list of prohibited items in both carry-on and checked baggage to avoid travel delays and potential legal complications.
