MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila police director Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said on Monday that the bus marshals in the metropolis are here to stay.
Some 300 marshals are deployed everyday to secure buses around the metro.
The program was implemented following the bus bombing in EDSA-Buendia last January 25 that claimed the lives of 5 people.
Although Bartolome admitted that 300 marshals are not enough to cover some 7,000 buses that ply different routes in Metro Manilam he thinks that the program will be a huge deterrent against groups planning acts of terrorism.
He explained that marshals operate in pairs and are able to inspect some 2,000-3,000 buses every day by riding them at random.
"Base sa feedback namin, nagugustuhan ng riding public ang program,” Bartolome said. "It makes them feel more safe."
Bus marshals are easily identifiable with their police uniforms and visible IDs.
They also do a short spiel after riding a bus to explain their objective to the passengers.
After checking any suspicious belongings, a pair of marshals usually sits at the back of the bus to observe before disembarking. The whole inspection lasts no more than 15 minutes.
Bartolome also clarified that for now, they have not considered deploying secret bus marshals in Metro Manila.
"Medyo may negative effect kasi yan" said Bartolome, citing the secret bus marshals program in the 1980s that was heavily criticized by various sectors.
For his part, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said he is in favor of the bus marshal system, even if the enforcers will be plainclothes policemen.
"You relinquish certain privacies when you use the public transportation system,” Tolentino said.
