At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. ARCHIVE

Travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will now be the only ones allowed to handle their passports during security checks, airport officials announced, following public uproar over a viral incident involving a torn passport. “To better protect your travel documents and reduce unnecessary contact, all NAIA security personnel have been instructed not to touch passports during terminal entry and security verification,” NAIA said in an official statement on Tuesday (April 29). “Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves.” The change comes after a viral Facebook post by user Diana Natividad claimed that her family vacation to Bali, Indonesia, was disrupted when her 78-year-old father was not allowed to board their flight due to a small tear in his passport. Natividad said that airline personnel took photos of the document and consulted Indonesian authorities, who ultimately deemed the passport invalid for entry. While the incident triggered backlash on social media, NAIA clarified that the passport in question was handled at an airline check-in counter in Terminal 3, not by NAIA security personnel. “There has been no report of any mishandling involving NAIA security personnel,” the airport management added. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed that Indonesian immigration rejected the passport due to its damage and emphasized the importance of safeguarding travel documents. Transport Secretary Vince Dizon issued a stern warning in Filipino: “If you see an incident like that, if someone is doing this scheme, you will be sorry. Sanctions will be imposed on both the airlines and their personnel.” The DOTr said that a formal complaint has already been filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board and reminded travelers to check their passports’ validity and condition before travel. ICA/Expat Media
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