More policemen will be deployed in mass transport stations in Metro Manila amid reports of an increasing number of criminal incidents against commuters, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. said that five policemen will be tasked to secure each station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 and 2, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
While the NCRPO data on criminal incidents near train stations are lower than the police data, Nartatez said they opted to deploy an additional number of policemen to ensure the safety of the commuters.
“There are 45 (train) stations) and we have security teams in every entry and exit point, we are securing them,” said Nartatez.
From the current three policemen, he said the number will be increased to five cops per station—all of them have body-worn cameras that will be used in the inspection and patrol.
“We are in coordination with the security aspect of the MRT and LRT such that we will start to enter the trains for the identification and arrest of criminal elements that are doing illegal activities inside like theft, robbery and sexual harassment,” said Nartatez.
He said police presence will augment the security personnel of the LRT and MRT managements.