Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials confirmed that purple jam or ube in a barrel is banned from being entered on airplanes because it can be used as an improvised weapon.
According to MIAA, when broken, the glass jar-turned-blunt instrument can also be used to threaten and harm people on board the airplane.
They noted that some passengers are still ignorant or are unaware that ube jam in a glass jar has long been prohibited by air carriers.
Despite being familiar with the list of other banned items on airplanes, the MIAA officials said, passengers insist on or sneak them past airport checkers.
Last week, an Office for Transportation Security (OTS) screener at the final security check stopped a Filipina over a glass jar of ube jam.
As a result, the Filipina along with her foreigner friend missed their flight to Dubai.
She later complained and accused the OTS screener of extortion, which accusation is being investigated.
The MIAA said passengers can hand-carry ube jam or any dessert but it should be packed in plastic jar/container or vacuum-packed.
It is requesting travel agencies to issue an advisory to their clients that glass jars are among the items banned on airplanes.
The advisory, the MIAA said, can save passengers time, especially those rushing to the airport to catch their flights.
