The prohibition on all liquids has been lifted in two of Metro Manila鈥檚 three light rail systems, weeks after the ban was imposed earlier this month following the bombing of a Jolo cathedral on Jan. 27.
Only the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 continues to implement the ban that has already been lifted in all stations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 and LRT Line 2.
In a statement on Wednesday, the MRT 3 management said that all liquids 鈥� even those exceeding 100 ml 鈥� would be allowed in its stations as long as these undergo testing and verification.
Seized items can be claimed
It also reminded passengers who had some items confiscated during the implementation of the ban that they could still retrieve these from the same station. Unclaimed items would be disposed of after 14 days, it said.
The LRT Authority which manages LRT Line 2 clarified that the lifting of the ban was only temporary pending the release of the implementing rules and regulations on liquids by the Office for Transportation Security.
As for the Light Rail Management Corp. which supervises LRT Line 1, the prohibition will remain in effect until further notice.
For now, only the following liquids will be allowed on its trains: infant milk, medicine, and alcohol and perfume not exceeding 100 ml as long as these go through a security check.
PNP recommendation
The Philippine National Police earlier recommended that liquids be banned in all three train systems as it raised the alert level in Metro Manila to prevent an attack similar to the one in Jolo.
Initially, the prohibition covered only bottled water but it was expanded to cover all kinds of liquid, including shampoos and perfumes.
The Metro Manila police, however, recently downgraded its alert level from full to heightened after the Jolo bombing was considered solved with the arrest of several suspects.