Manila cops to ‘shoot’ passengers at bus terminals

In an effort to easily identify robbers who prey on bus commuters, Manila policemen will take photographs or video footage of passengers before each bus leaves the terminal.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said he successfully implemented the new crime-fighting tack when he was provincial director of Cavite and Quezon.

The preventive scheme, dubbed “Larawan para sa Ligtas na Paglalakbay,” was initially tested yesterday morning at all departing provincial buses at the terminal of the Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines on Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Rosales advised terminal managers to preserve the photos for at least three days for reference.

“With modern technology, bus owners would not spend much on film negatives since the digital video cameras have memory cards which can be used over for so many times,” Rosales said.

He assured bus owners of increased income since passengers will patronize their buses if they feel safe and secure. The plan of terrorists to sow panic and cause injury and death to commuters will also be thwarted, he added.

Meanwhile, Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula advised terminal managers to suspend or cancel the licenses of drivers and conductors found using prohibited drugs.

Rabbit Bus Lines terminal manager Cris Soriano said the MPD’s crime-prevention tack is timely and would make the passengers feel safe.

“The video-taking plus the checkpoints will reduce or eliminate the opportunity for (robbers) to strike,” he said.

Rosales and Sapitula also signed a memorandum of agreement with bus owners for a better coordination and cooperation to ensure the success of the program.

Rosales said the scheme will be replicated in other bus and FX terminals in the city in the coming days.             – Nestor Etolle