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| Philippine National Police–Airport Security Group | |
|---|---|
| Name | Philippine National Police–Airport Security Group |
| Formed | 1975 (as Aviation Security Command); 1991 (reorganized) |
| Preceding1 | Aviation Security Command |
| Country | Philippines |
| Headquarters | Ninoy Aquino International Airport Complex, Pasay |
| Jurisdiction | Aviation security at major airports in the Philippines |
| Parent agency | Philippine National Police |
Philippine National Police–Airport Security Group is the specialized aviation security unit responsible for law enforcement, counterterrorism, and passenger safety at Philippine airports. It operates within the Philippine National Police framework and collaborates with agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Airlines Association of the Philippines, and Department of Transportation (Philippines). The group traces its roots to earlier aviation security formations and has been involved in responses to incidents at hubs including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan–Cebu International Airport, and Clark International Airport.
The unit originated as the Aviation Security Command (Philippines) in the 1970s to address threats after global incidents like the Entebbe raid and the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Reorganizations in the 1990s aligned aviation policing with reforms following the People Power Revolution and the creation of the Philippine National Police under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The group adapted to changing threats after events including the September 11 attacks and regional concerns such as the Marawi siege and insurgent activities linked to groups like Abu Sayyaf Group and New People's Army. It has since developed protocols influenced by international standards from International Civil Aviation Organization and cooperative initiatives with United States Transportation Security Administration exchanges and Interpol coordination.
The group is organized into command components aligned with major airport hubs: a headquarters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, regional detachments at Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, and Davao International Airport, and specialized units for elite response. Leadership positions are filled by officers from the Philippine National Police with liaison roles to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration (Philippines), and Philippine Coast Guard. The structure includes airside patrols, perimeter security, canine units, explosive ordnance disposal teams linked to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and intelligence liaison cells coordinating with National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and National Bureau of Investigation (Philippines). Administrative oversight interacts with the Office of the President of the Philippines through national security directives and budgetary processes involving the Department of Budget and Management.
Primary tasks include passenger and baggage screening in coordination with the Philippine Airport Groundhandlers Association, perimeter security with airport authorities such as Manila International Airport Authority, and interdiction of smuggling with the Bureau of Customs (Philippines)]. The group conducts counterterrorism preparedness for threats similar to Air France Flight 8969 scenarios and enforces aviation-related provisions of laws including the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and provisions of the Republic Act No. 776 (Aviation Security). It supports crisis response for incidents like aircraft accidents involving the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and coordinates post-incident investigations with the Air Transportation Office legacy records and the Philippine Statistics Authority for casualty reporting. International passenger facilitation links the group with carriers such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
The unit has been deployed during high-profile events such as presidential movements involving the President of the Philippines, state visits by leaders from Japan and United States, and ASEAN summits hosted at Manila. It led security responses to incidents including hijack scares, suspicious package threats at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, and interdictions linked to transnational crime networks arrested in operations with Interpol and United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The group participated in crowd control and security operations during the aftermath of natural disasters like Typhoon Haiyan and public health emergencies coordinated with the Department of Health (Philippines) and World Health Organization. Notable collaborations include joint exercises with the Philippine Air Force and multinational drills with Association of Southeast Asian Nations partners.
Personnel receive training in aviation security, explosive ordnance disposal, canine handling, and crisis negotiation with instructors from institutions such as the Philippine National Police Academy, National Police Commission (Philippines), and foreign partners like Royal Malaysian Police and United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. Equipment inventories typically include non-lethal crowd-control gear, ballistic protection sourced via procurement overseen by the Government Procurement Policy Board, radio communications interoperable with National Telecommunications Commission standards, and screening machines coordinated with International Civil Aviation Organization recommended technologies. Canine units trained in detection work alongside X-ray systems used by Manila International Airport Authority contractors and hand-portable explosive trace detection devices procured through agreements involving the Department of Trade and Industry.
Statutory authority stems from directives within the Philippine National Police charter and aviation security regulations promulgated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and laws enacted by the Congress of the Philippines. The group's jurisdiction covers secured areas of international gateways including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, and territorial airside perimeters where coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines is mandated under national security protocols. Enforcement powers include detention, search, and coordination for prosecution with the Department of Justice (Philippines) and filing of cases with the Office of the Ombudsman (Philippines) as appropriate.
Community outreach programs engage airport employees, vendor associations such as the Philippine Retailers Association, and traveler advocacy groups in initiatives modeled on International Civil Aviation Organization guidance. Partnerships extend to airlines including Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, service providers like AirAsia Philippines, and international bodies such as International Air Transport Association to harmonize security screening protocols. Joint public information campaigns have involved the Department of Tourism (Philippines) to ensure traveler safety messaging, while collaborative emergency preparedness exercises include local government units such as the City of Pasay and regional disaster councils as established by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.