Trains damaged in 14 stone-throwing incidents in December 2019, says PNR

Several trains of the Philippine National Railways have been damaged by people throwing stones at them, with 14 incidents recorded from December 2 to 21, 2019 alone, the railway said.

PNR OIC spokesperson Crissy Ecalnea told GMA News that this included the incident on December 20 in Barangay Canlalay in Biñan, Laguna that was posted online.

The suspect in that incident remains at large.

“Mahirap kasing manghuli o mag-identify noong sa stoning incidents kasi naglalakbay ‘yung tren. And then usually 'yung mga tao, nagtatago sila,” Ecalnea said.

In one of the recent incidents, a teenage culprit was caught.

But because he was a minor, he was released by the authorities to his parents.

“Wala ring maibigay na magandang dahilan kasi minsan, isang katuwaan. Pinagsabihan ‘yung magulang na pagsabihan yung anak,” Ecalnea said.

A proposed bill in Congress criminalizes any act that sabotages train operations.

While the bill is pending, the PNR makes the culprit shoulder the cost of repairs.

“Hihingi kami ng danyos. Magfa-file ng kaso siguro for danyos or damages to government property,” Ecalnea said.

But foremost among PNR’s priorities is the safety of passengers.

“Meron naman kami diyang naka-deploy na konduktor. May rail police din diyan. Kung may medical attendance na kailangan and if kailangan dalhin sa pinakamalapit na ospital, ‘yun ‘yung mga immediate response natin,” Ecalnea said.

Danger zones beside the rails have also been identified and cleared of obstructions.

Suspects also throw trash at passing trains.

To protect passengers, mesh wires were placed on the windows of several trains.

“Security ng mananakay yung number one na issue namin diyan," Ecalnea stressed. “Pag nabato siya, may tendency siya na 'yung mga bubog o 'yung glass niya, mag-shatter doon sa mga tao, tamaan 'yung mga tao. So isa ‘yon sa added layer na ginagawa natin temporarily,” she added.

But Ecalnea explained that the basic solution to the problem is discipline.

“Ito pong lahat ng tren na nakikita ‘nyo ay pagmamay-ari ‘nyo, pagmamay-ari natin. Sana po ingatan para makapagserbisyo pa sila nang mahabang panahon. Ito po ay para matulungan natin i-ease yung traffic, makapagdala tayo ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang lugar sa mas maliit na halaga, maigsing panahon. At saka mas mura 'yung pamasahe,” Ecalnea added. — BM, GMA News