NCRPO deploys 300 bus marshals in MM

Don’t be surprised if you will see a uniformed policeman or two boarding the bus you are in. Most probably they are part of the 300 bus marshals deployed to "ride, observe and inspect" buses plying EDSA and connecting major roads such as the South Luzon Expressway and North Luzon Expressway in the light of the bombing of a Newman Goldliner bus in Makati Tuesday. The explosion claimed the lives of five people and wounded a dozen others. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the bus marshals from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) started monitoring the buses after the Tuesday incident. “Makakaasa tayo na may mga uniformed policemen sa mga bus. Itong 300 bus marshals magiging random ang kanilang pagsakay at pagbaba sa buses. They will ride, they will observe, and kung maayos naman they will alight from the bus at sasakay uli ng ibang bus," he told reporters.

Lacierda said the bus marshals have the right to inspect suspicious packages and inquire from suspicious-looking passengers. "At the very least pag may police visibility, may hesitation sa part of those who want to foment violence in the metropolis," said Lacierda. Asked if the deployment of bus marshals will be permanent, he said it will depend on the peace and order situation of the country and instruction from the PNP officials. "These are part of the heightened security measures we are undertaking," he said. Lacierda said there is no plan yet to deploy marshals in passengers jeepneys to prevent petty crimes. He said NCRPO head Director Nicanor Bartolome admitted that the 300 bus marshals will not be enough to man the 7,000 buses plying in EDSA but they have to stretch their resources to avoid another bombing incident. "Obviously it’s not enough, you’ve got 7,000 buses plying in EDSA so as of now they are really stretched but they are doing the best that they can to avoid another incident of bombing. They are stretched but hindi pwedeng pabayaan ang ibang lugar," said Lacierda. With this, he asked the public to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or packages. In the Light Railways Transit (LRT) and Metro Railways Transit (MRT), there will be police officers and bomb-sniffing dog assigned in every station, Lacierda said. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV