NCRPO's Eleazar lauds MRT security system for detecting grenade

National Capital Region's top cop Director Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday lauded the effective security system in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line for being able to detect the grenade a passenger was carrying as he tried to enter a station in Quezon City.

"The fact na na-detect nila ang granada, ibig sabihin ay effective ang kanilang security system, ang coordination ng personnel," Eleazar said at a press conference on Sunday morning.

MRT security personnel apprehended Saturday evening a man carrying a grenade when he tried to get inside the station.

An earlier report indicated that the suspect was denied entry at the Cubao Station at about 7:10 p.m.

GMA News' Cecil Villarosa in her report identified the suspect as Christian Guzman, who placed inside his backpack the grenade that the X-ray machine at the station detected.

From the Cubao station, Guzman was headed to MRT Pasay Station and from there he was supposed to proceed to Cavite.

At Sunday's press conference, Eleazar said the explosive was a fragmentation grenade and was owned by the man's brother who was a soldier.

He said an investigation is ongoing on how the man got hold of the grenade to determine if the brother has culpability.

Authorities are checking the background of the suspect.

Likewise, Eleazar reminded the public that bringing explosives in public places is a graver offense than illegal possession of firearms.

"Ang pagdadala ng explosive is a non-bailable offense punishable with life sentence," he said. —with Cecil Villarosa/LBG, GMA News