Student on viral LRT video ‘laughing but fearing’ for his life

So ayun nga, dumating kami sa U.N. station. nadagdagan ng passengers, mas sikisikan, syempre mas iba na ang Intensity…

Video courtesy of James Cubelo | Thursday, 10 March 2016

(Video courtesy of James Cubelo)

It was an extreme ride that he would never forget.

The student who took the viral video while on board a Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 train with doors open said he may be seen laughing while filming it, but it did not mean that he was not scared.

WATCH: ‘Like a theme park ride,’ LRT coach runs with doors open

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Friday, James Jun Cubelo said it was the first time he had such an experience in his four years of riding the Metro train.

“Although tumatawa ako sa video, tumatawa ako sa pagkuha ko, kinakabahan din ako nung time na ‘yun, as in nanginginig na ’ko,” Cubelo said. “‘Yun din po kasi ‘yung purpose ng pag-video ko, para matawa sila, para mawala ‘yung kaba namin.”

Cubelo, who was on his way home from school, said they tried to alert authorities regarding the situation, but a guard at the LRT Central Station told them to just tighten their grip on hand rails.

“Wala pong nangyayaring ganun talaga sa amin … Pero nung sumakay kami nagulat na lang kaming umaandar ’yung tren nang bukas pa ’yung pinto, so kinabahan kami. Nagtawag kami ng pansin sa crew doon saka kay kuya guard pero sinabihan lang kami na kumapit na lang nang mabuti kung ano man ang makakapitan namin dun, which is nakakabahala kasi wala, as in nakakakaba siya,” Cubelo said.

“Umaandar siya nang mabilis, tapos ang daan pa from Central to UN is paliko, so mas kinabahan ako kasi ako yung nasa may front door,” he added.

READ: ‘LRT-1 endangered lives of passengers’–militant group

Cubelo said fellow passengers alighted the train at the Pedro Gil station even after the doors eventually closed.

“Tigasan lang ng tuhod nung time na ‘yun … ang nakakakaba doon sa ’kin sila nakahawak … Nung nag-stop po kami sa Pedro Gil maraming bumabang mga passengers kasi sabi nila natatakot na din po sila. Kahit nag-close na siya lahat kami nasa gitna ng tren kasi baka mamaya bigla na namang bumukas,” he said.

The LRT 1 management has issued a statement and apologized to the passengers on board the train, asserting its policy that no train with a door fault should leave the station.

“Our operations, engineering and safety teams will work together to ensure that this issue is investigated, addressed and corrected thoroughly to ensure the safety of passengers,” the management said. RC