'Punit' passport: Philippine airport security no longer allowed to touch passports

Manila: Security personnel at Philippine airports, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), are no longer permitted to physically handle passengers’ passports during terminal entry.

This new policy comes in response to mounting complaints over damaged passports (also known as "punit passport") — a phenomenon that has sparked concerns among travelers and is being locally referred to as the "punit passport" issue.

“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 announced in a statement.

“Passengers will simply be asked to show their valid ID or travel document by holding it up themselves,” the airport authority added.

The move follows a high-profile incident involving a passenger who claimed her father was barred from boarding a Cebu Pacific flight to Bali, Indonesia, on April 15 due to a small tear on his passport.

According to her, airline staff found the damage during check-in and subsequently refused to allow him on board.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) have since launched a formal investigation into similar cases where travelers were reportedly denied boarding due to allegedly damaged travel documents.

Mishandling

In its statement, NAIA clarified that the incident involving the torn passport occurred at a check-in counter at Terminal 3 and emphasised that no mishandling was reported on the part of NAIA security staff.

“There has been no report of any mishandling involving NAIA security personnel,” the statement said.

Nevertheless, airport officials are taking proactive steps to avoid future incidents. “We are working closely with our airline partners, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to strengthen procedures and make sure incidents like this do not happen again,” NAIA said.

The policy aims to not only preserve the physical integrity of vital travel documents but also reduce unnecessary physical contact as part of enhanced passenger service and protection.