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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 17) —The mandatory footwear removal during the final security checkpoint at airports has been suspended since Oct. 13, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) said on Tuesday.
The OTS explained that the suspension of the policy is due to the pending review by the Department of Transportation.
“Beginning October 13, 2023, passengers will only be required to remove their footwear when an alarm is triggered during security screening, or during increased security condition level,” the agency said in a statement.
The OTS strictly implemented the long-standing footwear removal policy in July, regardless of security level in all airports nationwide.
It even advised passengers to wear shoes that are easily removable, to save time in lacing or buckling, for a faster screening process.
In December 2001, Al Qaeda member Richard Reid attempted to detonate bombs hidden in shoes while on a flight from Miami, Florida to Paris, France.
The incident resulted in the global policy requiring passengers to remove their shoes as part of security protocols.
The implementation of the policy was suspended by Philippine authorities even if there were separate incidents in August at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport where travelers were caught hiding illegal drugs inside their footwear.
Source: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/10/17/footwear-removal-airports-suspended.html