DOTC assures public on LRT/MRT security on Rizal Day

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Rizal Day bombing in Metro Manila, transportation officials reassured Light and Metro Rail Transit (LRT/MRT) commuters of adequate security. Transportation Department Undersecretary and spokesman Dante Velasco said on Wednesday security is also adequate in bus terminals as Filipinos head to their home provinces for the New Year. "Nagtse-check ng security measures, may K-9 at x-ray ... Tuloy-tuloy kahit hindi Christmas season o New Year," he said in an interview on dzBB radio on Wednesday. (Security personnel and measures there are sufficient, they include K-9 teams and x-ray machines. These measures are in place even if it is not Christmas or New Year.) The LRT-1 stretches from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in southern Metro Manila. On the other hand, the MRT stretches from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North EDSA in Quezon City. Cops seek understanding Meanwhile, Metro Manila police sought understanding from the public for the tight security measures at the LRT and MRT, saying these are for public safety. Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome gave a passing mark to the LRT and MRT after completing an inspection ride of the two systems. "Satisfied ako doon sa inspection. So far naging maganda naman ang resulta. Sa ibang lugar maraming tao ang iba kaunti ang pasahero. On the average 400,000 ang pasahero sa LRT, during peak umaabot 500,000 to 550,000," Bartolome said in an interview on dzBB radio. (I am satisfied with the inspection. So far the results are good. Some stations had many passengers while some had few. On the average, the LRT has 400,000 passengers a day, but on peak days it has 500,000 to 550,000.) Bartolome led police officials in inspecting the LRT-1 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) systems on Tuesday. He said the inspection included the LRT-1's Blumentritt station, where a bombing occurred on December 30, 2000. "Inikot namin ang distrito, Cubao to Pasay, Manila, Blumentritt. Sa Blumentritt ang Rizal Day bombing. Then Monumento ... maayos naman," he said. (We inspected the districts the LRT passes through, including Cubao, Pasay, Manila, and Blumentritt where the Rizal Day bombing occurred. Then we passed Monumento. So far the security measures are in order.) A separate report by radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. quoted Bartolome as saying there is no indication of any terrorist threat in Metro Manila for the New Year. Bartolome said they are coordinating with their counterparts in the military and other law enforcement agencies. "So far sa ating coordination sa ahensya sa law enforcement wala tayong nakikitang specific threat (So far, based on our coordination with law enforcement agencies, we see no specific threats)," he said. Despite this, he said Metro Manila police will continue to gather intelligence information and secure areas of convergence. He also said they will inspect other transport terminals such as bus stations. "Inspection natin para ang tao on their toes (We will continue the inspections to keep our men on their toes)," he said. Security at bus terminals Velasco said security is also tight at bus terminals as the measures laid out by Office of Transport Security are already in place. The Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard are also keeping watch over seaports to make sure boats are not overloaded, he added. "May tao tayo riyan para tiyakin ang seguridad at kaligtasan (We have our people there to ensure security and safety)," he said. Rizal Day bombing According to GMA News Research, on December 30, 2000, close to a hundred persons were injured while 22 others died when simultaneous bombings rocked five areas in Metro Manila: