AMID reports of another destabilization plan being hatched, the Philippine National Police (PNP) started deploying uniformed personnel at every Metro Manila train station as a matter of “prevention.”
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) however insisted that the deployment of cops is meant to address the alarming number of crimes recorded at the peripherals of the Metro Rail Transit along EDSA and the Light Rail Trainsit’s Line 1 along Taft Avenue and LRT Line 2 traversing Recto, Manila to Marcos Highway in Antipolo City.
Citing data, the PNP hinted at 83 crimes recorded in Metro Manila trains between 2023 and 2024.
Of the 83 crimes that took place in the MRT, LRT1 and LRT2 since 2023, 44 are incidents of theft, 8 are sexually related, 6 are linked to fake bomb threats, while 7 involved the illegal carrying of firearms.
“We immediately directed NCRPO to beef up police assistance desks in different stations,” according to Brig. Gen. Rogelio Ponce Peñones, in his capacity as NCRPO deputy regional director for operations.
At least 18 marshals have been deployed, while police desks are also being mounted in the 45 train stations in Metro Manila, he said.
However, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said that while police visibility in commuter trains are good, he asked the PNP to deploy police personnel in pairs – one in proper police uniform and another in plain clothes – and instruct them to regularly board trains.
“Gusto ko sa bawat biyahe ng tren may sumasakay na marshalls kasi iba yung makita nung mga masasamang loob na may pulis… That should serve as a deterrent. Pero dapat may naka-civilian din para ma-caught in the act,” he said.
“Yung mga naka-uniform, para kampante yung riding public, yung mga naka-civilian ang focus noon para manmanan at tingnan yung mga suspicious-looking character,” he explained. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
