Shots fired in airport siege

Shots were fired at Manila airport tonight where at least three armed men, including a former air transport official, tried to seize the control tower.

Airport general manager Edgardo Manda said there were no immediate reports of casualties but radio reports said at least two people were killed.

Manda said former Air Transport Office chief Panfilo Villaruel locked himself in at the air control tower office, unarmed and alone. “He made very incoherent statements,” he said of Villaruel.

Brig Gen Victor, a former military intelligence chief, said Villaruel and at least two other men were armed.

There were no lights seen inside the airport tower office.

Manda said flights were not disrupted and the first flight due to come in on Saturday was expected to arrive on schedule.

“The situation is under control. This is only a police matter,” he said. “Our flights are not affected. As far as we are concerned our operation remains normal. We have no order to divert (flights).