More cops to secure trains, rail stations

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) yesterday vowed to deploy more police officers to secure railway systems following reports of crimes occurring in trains and railway stations.

In a statement, the DOTr acknowledged “the public’s concerns regarding recent incidents and assure everyone that these matters are being addressed with the utmost seriousness.”

The DOTr issued the statement after the NCRPO said during Monday’s Senate hearing that it recorded 83 crimes – mostly theft, sexual harassment, bomb jokes and illegal carrying of firearms – that occurred at the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and LRT-2) from 2023 to July this year.

The DOTr’s data, however, showed a higher number of crimes compared to the NCRPO’s figures.

From January to July, the LRT-1 reported 67 incidents among 44 million passengers; 35 incidents among 30 million commuters at the LRT-2 and 250 incidents out of the 78.2 million passengers at the MRT-3 – a total of 352 cases.

According to the DOTr, between one and three out of a million passengers of the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 became victims of crime, which mostly involved pickpockets.

The DOTr said among the measures to be implemented are closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies; putting up more signs that announce the presence of surveillance cameras; deploying more train marshals, security guards and K-9 units during peak hours, and “constant public addresses” to remind commuters to keep themselves and their valuables safe.

No significant increase

Meanwhile, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said there has been no significant increase in the number of focus crimes at train stations in Metro Manila.

Asked by reporters if the crime situation in the metropolis’ three railway systems should be a cause for concern, Nartatez said, “Wala (nothing) to be alarmed (about).”

The NCRPO said 85 crimes occurred in the railway systems from 2023 to July 2024 – 59 in 2023 alone and 26 in the first seven months of this year.

Theft was the most prevalent crime, followed by acts of lasciviousness, illegal gambling and possession of illegal drugs, the NCRPO added.

Appearing at a Senate hearing on Monday, Brig. Gen. Rogelio Ponce Peñones, NCRPO deputy regional director for operations, reported that there were 83 incidents of focus crimes – a discrepancy of two – within the same time period.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo called the hearing after receiving information from some MRT-3 personnel about frequent reports of pickpockets and sexual harassers.

Nartatez said 827 police officers have been deployed across all 45 metro train stations and their peripheries.

The NCRPO chief vowed there would be an increase in police visibility, especially in highly crowded train stations.

“More police officers were assigned in crowded areas. The most crowded stations are near the university belt area,” he said.