MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday called for tighter airport security ahead of the Undas travel rush, questioning gaps in passenger protection after the reported theft of luxury watches at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the interception abroad of a multibillion-peso drug shipment aboard a private jet bound for Manila.
With an estimated 1.25 million passengers expected to pass through NAIA during Undas 2026, Tulfo said authorities must strengthen security measures to protect travelers and prevent illegal drugs from entering the country.
“An estimated 1.25 million passengers are expected to pass through NAIA this Undas 2026. That is why we must ensure that adequate security measures are in place,” Tulfo said in his opening statement as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.
He cited the reported theft of luggage containing three luxury watches worth more than P15 million from French national Anthony Boukhors at the pickup area of NAIA Terminal 1.
“If notorious thieves can operate within airport premises, how can we ensure the safety of the millions of passengers who pass through the airport every day?” Tulfo said.
The senator said aviation security must go beyond protecting passengers and their belongings, stressing its importance to national security and border protection.
Tulfo also raised concerns over the Oct. 1 interception in Laos of 521 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P3.54 billion aboard a private jet bound for Manila.
The aircraft had reportedly secured a flight permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), prompting questions about screening and approval procedures for private aircraft bound for the country.
“If the drugs had not been intercepted in Laos, could they have made it into the Philippines? Why not?” Tulfo said.
Beyond airport security, the senator flagged safety concerns involving maritime transport, expressways, ride-hailing services and delivery platforms, saying recent incidents underscored the need for stricter regulatory enforcement and greater accountability.
“Every day, millions of our fellow Filipinos board ferries, take planes, travel along major expressways, use ride-hailing services to get home safely, and rely on delivery networks to keep their businesses running,” Tulfo said.
“But when we look closely at recent events, we have to ask ourselves: Are our systems doing enough to protect the lives and dignity of every Filipino as they travel every day?” he added.
Tulfo said these incidents were interconnected and pointed to broader gaps in public safety and regulatory enforcement.
"These are not isolated, disconnected stories,” Tulfo said, citing the Palawan maritime tragedy, the Laos drug case, flooding along NLEX, safety gaps in ride-hailing services, problems in logistics networks and the theft of luxury watches.
He reiterated that motorists’ failure to yield at pedestrian crossings remained a serious concern, saying he had repeatedly raised the issue after receiving complaints on his radio program.
“People continue to get run over right on pedestrian lanes because many motorists have no regard for pedestrians and refuse to stop,” Tulfo said.
“Installing speed humps may seem like a small thing, but when we weigh it against the value of human life, that is a big deal to me and to everyone,” he added.
