LUBAO, Pampanga – The Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines has appealed to the Philippine National Police to intensify police patrols and inspection operations at major bus terminals in Metro Manila and the provinces to ensure the safety of the riding public.
This, even as the management of Genesis Transport Service, Inc. (Genesis) have assured financial help for the families of the two shooting victims who were among those hostaged by a mentally unstable man in one of its buses here last Thursday.
Fely Bautista of Genesis’ legal department said her company has already met with relatives of Gener Reyes, 40,of Naic, Cavite who was shot dead during the hostage drama and Aeron Santos, a freshman student of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City, who was seriously wounded and was brought to the Guagua hospital.
“We are also tracking down the other passengers who survived the hostage because we’d like to help them cope with the psychological trauma caused by the incident,” Baustista said.
Hostage taker Rey Digo, who apparently was mentally ill, was shot dead by policemen to save the lives of the other hostages.
Baustista said that Genesis has also beefed up security at its terminals in Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon by augmenting its security guards and seeking police presence.
“We have intensified security checks and inspections at its terminals in Metro Manila, Bataan, Baguio City and Cabanatuan,” she said.
PBOAP president Homer Mercado, in a letter to PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., said “the safety and security of the buses and their passengers would be enhanced by intensified police patrols in terminals where the police officer can carry out the inspection of passengers and their luggage.”
Mercado also requested the PNP “to field police inspection teams before and after the major toll booths of the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway.”
“This would also deter holdup gangs preying on passenger buses,” Mercado said.
The PBOAP likewise asked the PNP to print out “wanted posters” identifying known members of highway robbery gangs. It assured police such posters would be posted at all terminals of its members. – Ding Cervantes