All Saints' Day generally peaceful, say policemen

CEBU – Yesterday’s observance of the All Saints’ Day was generally peaceful, officials of the Police Regional Office and Cebu City Police Office said.

PRO-7 Director Ronald Roderos said the advanced dissemination of information to the public regarding the rules and regulation to be taken on this particular season has been effective in handling the security situation in the cemeteries.

“Ang situation sa tibuok Central Visayas is normal and peaceful. Everybody who went to the cemetery was able to do visitation to their loved ones. No untoward incidents happened. Ok na kaayo at this point in time,” Roderos said.

The police official said he is also expecting that same situation will continue during the observance of the All Souls’ Day today.

Roderos said that he conducted an hour-by-hour report to the national operation center of Camp Crame about the security situation of the cemeteries in Cebu.

So far, he said the regional, provincial, and city police offices have not yet reported any untoward incident

“Maayo kaayo ang seguridad. Compared to last year, lesser ang bladed weapons karon. And since Saturday and Sunday, mas gamay ang tawo ‘ron kay nanguli ang uban sa tagsa-tagsa nila ka-probinsya. Everything is according to the plan,” Roderos further said.

With the liquor ban conducted inside the cemeteries, Roderos said they were not able to spot drunken men and intoxicating liquors in these areas. They did not also hear a loud music sound that is prohibited under the anti-noise ordinance.

More than 20 offices of the Task Group Motorcycle of CCPO led by SPO2 Adonis Dumpit started roving around the city at 9 a.m.

One squad from the 78th Infantry Battalion composing 10 soldiers was also deployed in every cemetery.

“All of this to protect and serve our community labi na karong Kalag-Kalag,” Roderos said.

As early as 7 a.m. yesterday, Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, Jr., conducted the roving inspection in Queen City Memorial Gardens, Cebu Memorial Park, and the public cemeteries of Calamba, Pardo, and Carreta.

“The situation is peaceful, orderly, no encountered any problem. Ang ato lang ayuhan og bantay ang traffic ug petty crimes, but we are prepared for this,” Comendador said.

Comendador and Roderos were also together when they proceeded to North Bus Terminal to continue the inspection.

Shortly before noon yesterday, there were already a total of 29,620 passengers who bought tickets to go to their respective provinces to visit their dead loved ones.

Roderos and Comendador also personally visited the tombs of sisters Jacqueline Hazel and Marijoy Chiong, who were gang-raped in July 1997, at the Queen City Memorial Gardens.

There, the two police officials met the victims’ mother, Thelma Chiong who thanked the police for the peace and order inside the cemetery.

“Nalipay mi nga well-guarded ang gawas ug sod aning cemetery... Ang amo lang gikagul-an nga ma-pareha kang Teehankee nga ma-pardon unya sa Presidente ba,” Chiong said, referring to the recent presidential pardon given to convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr. – Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)