Metro transport terminals monitored for safety

MANILA, Philippines—The newly installed director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) inspected transport terminals on Friday to assess the security deployment of police personnel in critical mass transit areas.

Chief Supt. Alan Purisima expressed his satisfaction over what he saw  at the stations of  the Metro Rail Transit along Edsa, Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2, as well  the Cubao bus terminal inside Araneta Center in Quezon City.

He said  he was keen on delegating the security of public conveyances to personnel from district offices and the regional public safety battalion, so as not to interfere with the duties of policemen doing their own patrol rounds.

“We will be utilizing our personnel from [the districts] and the regional public safety battalion to augment our deployed personnel in vital installations and other public convergence. I don’t want to create a vacuum by pulling [station personnel] out,” Purisima said in a statement.

The NCRPO chief began the inspection Friday at the Edsa-Shaw Boulevard MRT station, before proceeding by train to the  LRT Cubao station.

From there, he checked the security deployment at the Cubao bus terminal.

Purisima  also went to the LRT Monumento station  where he took note of its  dimly lit areas. He said he would bring to the LRT administration’s attention the benefits of having a brightly-lit station.

“By keeping the place well-lighted, we will prevent and preempt possible illegal activities of criminal elements and keep commuters in the area safe,” Purisima said.

He also made a quick tour of  Pier 15 in Manila and  suggested  adjustments in  the deployment of security personnel in the area to port officials.

The police official also advised  police personnel at the port to be alert in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden earlier this week.