MANILA, Philippines — The management of Metro Rail Transit-3 on Friday said it received a bomb threat last month, prompting the implementation of tightened security measures.
The MRT-3 management made the statement following criticisms over ban on liquid items inside train stations.
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Train officials said the bomb threat sent via e-mail was received last January 3.
“That’s one reason kung bakit po kami naghihigpit ng seguridad (why we’re tightening security measures) following recent attacks in Mindanao. We just wanted to be cautious since we have thousands of passengers daily,” the MRT-3 said in a statement, which was obtained by News5.
The controversial policy received backlash from the riding public for prohibiting not only bottled beverages even perfume and lotion.
But the MRT-3 management said it does not want to compromise the safety and security of its passengers and personnel.
“We will not lax and we will implement a more effective security measures in our trains and stations,” it said.
The MRT-3 management on Thursday released a list of liquids and other items permitted inside its trains. The following items are permitted inside MRT-3 upon validation and approval of security personnel and police officers in stations:
It explained that any liquid substance can be mixed to form a liquid bomb.
“Nitroglycerin is oily and clear, so if it is poured in an opaque lotion bottle, no one would know what is inside. Because it is clear and oily, nitroglycerin would be easy to conceal in lotion or shampoo bottles. Nitroglycerin’s inherent instability would make this bottle very dangerous for you to carry around,” the MRT-3 management said.
MRT-3 ferries half a million passengers daily. — Gaea Katreena Cabico