The Office of Transportation Security (OTS) clarified the suspension of the mandatory removal of footwear in Philippine airports, citing this is still case to case basis and the removal of footwear might still be done randomly.
“Yung pinapatanggal ng footwear ay yung dumadaan sa screening sa tinatawag nating AIT or advance imaging technology na parang aquarium… SOP (standard operating procedure) doon na talagang dapat magtanggal ng footwear kasi hindi mababasa ng equipment kung merong tinatagong bawal sa paa kasi may limitation siya,” OTS officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Jose Briones said in an ABS-CBN report.
The AIT is a screening equipment capable in detecting explosives and other illegal substances.
Some netizens shared online that they are still being required to remove their shoes in airports
“Yun po kasi ang work instruction o SOP once dun ka matatapat sa AIT specially yung mga US-bound passengers,” Briones said.
The three AIT machine are located at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
The OTS asked for understanding from the public since they are only following the standards when it comes to airport security.
