MRT-3 says it imposed stricter security measures due to bomb threat

The MRT-3 management was recently under fire after netizens complained about its ban on liquids, which includes water bottles, perfume, mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, among others. (File photo: DOTr MRT-3/Facebook)

The Metro Manila Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) management on Friday, February 8, revealed one of its reasons why it started to impose stricter security measures in its train line: a bomb threat.

The management said they received the threat via an email last January 3, a few weeks before the twin bombings in Jolo, Sulu occurred.

“That’s one reason kung bakit po kami naghihigpit ng seguridad (why we tightened the security) following recent attacks in Mindanao. We just wanted to be cautious, since we have thousands of passengers daily,” it explained.

“We do not want to compromise the safety and security of our passengers and personnel. We will not lax and we will implement a more effective security measures in our trains and stations,” it continued.

It further said that they already coordinated with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to track down the sender.

The MRT-3 management was recently under fire after netizens complained about its ban on liquids, which includes water bottles, perfume, mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, among others.

Netizen @therandomran tweeted, “Raindrops are liquid. They are banned too? How about tears, blood, they are forms of liquid too. How about gender fluidity. Haha. Are liquid items from groceries included? This new no-liquid policy in LRT (Light Rail Transit) & MRT is insane.”

Twitter user @kairanano, meanwhile, shared to her followers that she “forcibly drank” her water at the MRT station because any liquid is prohibited.

“Buti wala akong dalang pabango pero bakit (Luckily, I did not bring my perfume with me but why)? Brb (Be right back) [I’m] drowning,” she wrote.

However, the management explained that they imposed the ban as liquids can be “mixed to form a liquid bomb.”

“The DOTr (Department of Transportation) MRT-3 is seeking a deeper understanding from the riding public as the agency is strictly implementing a more effective security regulation,” it said in a statement.

The only liquids allowed on the trains are:

• Baby formula or breast milk in bottles.
• Drinking water for children.
• All prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Liquids including water, juice or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or life condition.
• Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs.
• Items used to augment the body and for medical and cosmetics reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetics breast, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids.
• Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medical-related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.