Manila: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an immediate investigation into the installation and procurement of bollards or vehicle barriers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, following a tragic incident that killed two people. In a press briefing at Malaca±ang, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that the bollards, which failed to stop an SUV that rammed into people outside Terminal 1, were installed in 2019 during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte and under the leadership of then-transportation secretary Arthur Tugade.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro stated that it is saddening that lives were lost due to the allegedly defective bollards installed at NAIA Terminal 1. She mentioned that Marcos had instructed concerned agencies to investigate the procurement process and assess whether the specifications used during the installation met safety standards. Castro added that Secretary Vince Dizon will address the issue immediately, including inspecting and swiftly replacing the bollards to ensure public safety.

The fatal incident, which occurred outside Terminal 1 over the weekend, has drawn public ire and triggered renewed scrutiny of government infrastructure projects. Surveillance footage shows the SUV plowing through the metal barriers without significant resistance before hitting multiple bystanders, killing two including a five-year-old child.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Authority (MIAA) admitted that the installation of the bollards was not deep. MIAA general manager Eric Ines, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency, stated that their current engineer pointed out that deep excavation for the installation of bollards at the departure area would go through the main arrival area. The airport operator, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), is currently looking for a solution, according to Ines.

Ines mentioned that it's up to NNIC to decide whether they would change the bollards or come up with a new scheme. He also ordered the deployment of additional police officers at the Terminal 1 departure area to ensure public safety.

In the meantime, Ines said the NNIC and some government agencies have provided aid to the crash victims. NNIC president Ramon Ang's daughter, Cecil, has accompanied the victims, and the NNIC has committed to shouldering their medical expenses.