MTRCB conducts surprise inspection at Cubao bus station

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection on passengers buses at the Araneta Center Bus Station in Cubao, Quezon City.

MTRCB Chairman Toto Villareal told Unang Balita in an interview that they wanted to make sure that drivers and conductors will play movies classified for General Patronage and Parental Guidance.

Mga taga-MTRCB, nagpaalaala sa mga bus company kaugnay sa mga dapat ipalabas @dzbb pic.twitter.com/xb8XIZf2tM

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) March 22, 2016

The agency conducted the inspection as thousands of passengers travelling to the provinces for the Holy Week break continue to flock to the bus terminal.

Villareal said that TV screens installed in the buses are considered as "theaters" under the law and are subject to a set of rules and regulations on film screenings.

“You cannot distribute or sell any optical media material that has not gone under MRTCB for review,” Villareal said.

Villareal, meanwhile, said that they are not mandated by law to confiscate pirated movies because it falls under the jurisdiction of the Optical Media Board.

However, he said they will request the driver and conductors to surrender their pirated movies.

Bus companies whose employees will be caught violting the MTRCB rules will be asked to pay a fine amounting between P3,000 and P5,000.

Augmented security

The National Capital Region Police Office, meanwhile, intensified security operations at the Araneta Center Bus Station with more policemen and K-9 units deployed.

NCRPO K9-Unit, iniinspeksyon ang gamit ng ilang pasahero sa Araneta Bus Terminal @dzbb pic.twitter.com/LIPqcIb1Vb

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) March 22, 2016

Mga pasahero inaasahan na ang pagdagsa ngayong araw sa Araneta Bus Terminal @dzbb pic.twitter.com/BVmVBpUzcI

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) March 22, 2016

Even the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sent personnel to the bus station to check if bus drivers are fit for travel.

Ilang mga bus driver sa Araneta Bus Terminal, inaalam ng mga taga-MMDA kung naka-inom ng alak bago bumiyahe @dzbb pic.twitter.com/M7ROhQHasa

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) March 23, 2016

—reports from dzBB's Allan Gatus/Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/ALG, GMA News