Albayalde inspects crowded bus terminals, airport in M Manila
Published Apr 17, 2019 02:06 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
Delayed trips, inadequate buses and the hot weather were just some of the problems travelers faced Wednesday when Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Police General Oscar Albayalde made a surprise inspection at several bus terminals and an airport in Metro Manila on Holy Wednesday.
Philippine National Police Chief Police General Oscar Albayalde (KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Albayalde, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) remains on full alert status all throughout the Holy Week until after the May 13 midterm elections.
"Kapag sinabi nating full alert status, lahat ng personnel natin should be accounted 100 percent. All the leaves are cancelled except for those that are emergency in nature. Lahat po ng pulis natin are present in their different offices or different stations," Albayalde said.
The PNP Chief first inspected Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Quezon City around 10 a.m.
According to Ramon Legazpi, property manager of Araneta Center Bus Station and Bus Port, some 7,000 passengers have been monitored leaving the Araneta Bus Port and Bus Station daily.
"Ngayon inaasahan natin dahil ngayon ang huling araw sa opisina, definitely later this afternoon till evening dadagsain na tayo so up to 8,000 passengers na (We expect that number to increase today as it is the last office day. Definitely by this afternoon and evening, we will be crowded by up to 8,000 passengers)," Legazpi told the Manila Bulletin.
Albayalde then went to Victory Liner and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITEx) in Parañaque City.
Albayalde, who talked to some of the bus and airport passengers, noted that some of the issues they raised were the inadequate buses which caused a delay in the trips and the humid weather.
"Unang concern nila is kulang ang mga bus na de-aircon. Sabi nga nila sa sobrang init, ang mga kababayan natin, with the 12 hours of travel, napakainit and nadedelay ang mga bus. Kaya naman ang LTFRB , I think nagbigay ng mga special permits sa mga iba't ibang bus companies (Their first concern is the lack of aircon buses. They said it is too hot and there’s about 12 hours of travel ahead, and the buses are delayed)," Albayalde disclosed.
However, if there's an improvement in this year's security preparation, it was that lesser contrabands were confiscated from the passengers.
In Araneta Bus Terminal alone, no contrabands were confiscated by the security officers, as of 11 a.m.
"I think na-educate na itong ating mga kababayan kaya as of this time, walang nahuhuling kahit anong pinagbabawal na dapat bitbitin sa mga buses (I think our countrymen have been educated, no items that are not allowed in the buses were discovered)," Albayalde stated.
In Metro Manila, Albayalde said there is no security threat being monitored so far but the police will not keep its guard down.
"With regards to security, wala naman tayong nakikitang problema as of this time. Although we’re not keeping our guard down palagi dito especially sa mga ganitong malaking mga bus terminals. As you all say, meron ng K9 dogs, meron tayong bomb-sniffing dogs na nakadeploy (We don’t see security problems. But we are still on guard; we have K9 dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs that are deployed)," he added.
Around 91,000 cops have already been deployed nationwide to ensure public security during the Holy Week, Albayalde said.
Albayalde issued reminders to the commuting public.
"Sa ating mga kababayan, I think hindi lang po dapat yung mga kapulisan natin o yung mga law enforcement agencies natin ang maging vigilant at mapagmasid (It’s not only the police who should be vigilant and alert)," he said.
"Mag-ingat rin po tayo at paulit-ulit po nating sinasabi na huwag na po nating ipost sa social media na tayo ay aalis na pagkahaba-haba or magbabakasyon sa ibang lugar at iiwan natin yung ating tahanan na walang laman (I have repeatedly said this – please be careful, do not post on social media that you are leaving your house, that you are going on a vacation)," he added.
Philippine National Police Chief Police General Oscar Albayalde (KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Albayalde, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) remains on full alert status all throughout the Holy Week until after the May 13 midterm elections.
"Kapag sinabi nating full alert status, lahat ng personnel natin should be accounted 100 percent. All the leaves are cancelled except for those that are emergency in nature. Lahat po ng pulis natin are present in their different offices or different stations," Albayalde said.
The PNP Chief first inspected Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Quezon City around 10 a.m.
According to Ramon Legazpi, property manager of Araneta Center Bus Station and Bus Port, some 7,000 passengers have been monitored leaving the Araneta Bus Port and Bus Station daily.
"Ngayon inaasahan natin dahil ngayon ang huling araw sa opisina, definitely later this afternoon till evening dadagsain na tayo so up to 8,000 passengers na (We expect that number to increase today as it is the last office day. Definitely by this afternoon and evening, we will be crowded by up to 8,000 passengers)," Legazpi told the Manila Bulletin.
Albayalde then went to Victory Liner and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITEx) in Parañaque City.
Albayalde, who talked to some of the bus and airport passengers, noted that some of the issues they raised were the inadequate buses which caused a delay in the trips and the humid weather.
"Unang concern nila is kulang ang mga bus na de-aircon. Sabi nga nila sa sobrang init, ang mga kababayan natin, with the 12 hours of travel, napakainit and nadedelay ang mga bus. Kaya naman ang LTFRB , I think nagbigay ng mga special permits sa mga iba't ibang bus companies (Their first concern is the lack of aircon buses. They said it is too hot and there’s about 12 hours of travel ahead, and the buses are delayed)," Albayalde disclosed.
However, if there's an improvement in this year's security preparation, it was that lesser contrabands were confiscated from the passengers.
In Araneta Bus Terminal alone, no contrabands were confiscated by the security officers, as of 11 a.m.
"I think na-educate na itong ating mga kababayan kaya as of this time, walang nahuhuling kahit anong pinagbabawal na dapat bitbitin sa mga buses (I think our countrymen have been educated, no items that are not allowed in the buses were discovered)," Albayalde stated.
In Metro Manila, Albayalde said there is no security threat being monitored so far but the police will not keep its guard down.
"With regards to security, wala naman tayong nakikitang problema as of this time. Although we’re not keeping our guard down palagi dito especially sa mga ganitong malaking mga bus terminals. As you all say, meron ng K9 dogs, meron tayong bomb-sniffing dogs na nakadeploy (We don’t see security problems. But we are still on guard; we have K9 dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs that are deployed)," he added.
Around 91,000 cops have already been deployed nationwide to ensure public security during the Holy Week, Albayalde said.
Albayalde issued reminders to the commuting public.
"Sa ating mga kababayan, I think hindi lang po dapat yung mga kapulisan natin o yung mga law enforcement agencies natin ang maging vigilant at mapagmasid (It’s not only the police who should be vigilant and alert)," he said.
"Mag-ingat rin po tayo at paulit-ulit po nating sinasabi na huwag na po nating ipost sa social media na tayo ay aalis na pagkahaba-haba or magbabakasyon sa ibang lugar at iiwan natin yung ating tahanan na walang laman (I have repeatedly said this – please be careful, do not post on social media that you are leaving your house, that you are going on a vacation)," he added.