House probe on Phl aviation security sought

MANILA, Philippines - Following the disappearance and feared crash of a Malaysian airplane, Filipino lawmakers now want to reassess the country's aviation security.

In a statement sent to media outfits, the independent minority bloc in the House of Representatives said it is calling for an immediate inquiry into the airworthiness of all aircraft nationwide and the safety of the air travel industry.

"The probe we have in mind will include both commercial and government," the minority bloc said. "The safety audit we'll carry will not only be on the technical but more importantly, of the security aspect as well."

The House minority said the investigation will evaluate the systems, procedures and standards of government agencies in inspecting aircraft.

Air travel authorities will also be asked to shed light on the country's preparedness against possible terrorist acts since these crimes are now being considered as one of the probable causes of the Malaysian plane's disappearance.

"We want to know how up-to-date is our air travel officials with the names, photos and other related data on terrorists, both local and foreign," the minority bloc said.

The Boeing 777 passenger jet of the Malaysia Airlines carrying 239 people has been missing since Saturday during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

On Monday, Malacañang said the Philippines should also review its aviation security following the incident.

"Right now, I think our security measures are very strict, but certainly it gives us pause to look into our security measures again," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a televised press briefing.