Police deployed at LRT in wake of Dec. 30 bombings first anniversary

The Caloocan City police has deployed some 200 plainclothes and uniformed policemen at the Light Railway Transit (LRT) North Terminal in Monumento, in bus terminals and shopping malls in the city in anticipation of the anniversary of the Dec. 30 bombings which killed and injured several persons last year.

City police chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said he has formed a special team headed by his investigation and intelligence chief, Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo. The team was primarily tasked to monitor "unusual" movements at the target places particularly in commercial areas.

"We just want to ensure that last year’s bombing incidents would not be repeated," said Mantele as he urged the public especially LRT commuters to remain calm when they see policemen roaming those areas.

It can be recalled that on Dec. 30 last year, a rash of bombings occurring within minutes of each other, killed several LRT commuters at the Blumentritt Station, a bus passenger in EDSA, QC, and a member of a police bomb disposal team in Makati and injured many others.

For his part, Mayor Rey Malonzo said that he also formed a special monitoring team, which he will personally supervise, to see to it that the commemoration of Rizal Day on Dec. 30 in the city will be peaceful.

"I have ordered the deployment of all members of the local public safety and traffic management department (DPSTM) to augment the policemen in securing vital areas like LRT stations, malls, and bus terminals," said Malonzo who made a spot check of the LRT station in Monumento with Mantele and Borromeo.

Borromeo said at least two policemen equipped with two-way radios will be detailed inside the LRT trains who will serve as immediate security to the riding public aside from the blue guards.

The Caloocan City police officials said that members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), along with its K-9 corps and anti-bomb squad, will be on a call on an around-the-clock basis.

Malonzo and Mantele appealed to the public to cooperate with the local authorities by immediately reporting suspicious-looking individuals or groups to the authorities.