PNP: Holy Week was peaceful

CEBU, Philippines - The Holy Week celebration in the whole of Cebu has been generally peaceful and security will remain tight in ports and terminals for those who are coming home.

In Cebu Province, Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said there were only minor incidents reported.

The same was the situation in Cebu City, according to Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the intelligence branch.

The CPPO headquarters received minimal incident reports during the Lenten season compared to ordinary days, said Comendador.

He said that there were only minor incidents reported during the fiesta celebration in Bantayan Island, which is a place known to draw a lot of people during this time of the year.

“Ang amo lang gilisdan ang crowd kay grabe kadaghang tao. Naay mga bata nga mangawagtang pero mauli ra pud namo sa ginikanan,” Comendador told The FREEMAN.

He said, the procession in the said island proceeded smoothly likewise with the traditional Sugat sa Kabanhawan in Minglanilla town on the southern part of Metro Cebu.

The police would also continue to provide tight security in terminals and ports around the province even after the Holy Week to secure the people, who are returning.

After the Lenten season, the CPPO is planning to launch Oplan Sumvac (summer vacation), which will also be manned by the personnel from the Task Force Semana Santa.

At least 300 personnel were part of Task Force Semana Santa.

Comendador said he wants a continuous operation in maintaining peace and security in the province especially in the towns that are known tourist destinations.

Oplan Sumvac will focus on sports festivals, beach clubs and resorts, fiesta celebrations as well as ports and terminals.

The official said he still has to convene all chiefs of police to finalize the plan.

CEBU CITY SITUATIONER

Santander said they have been receiving situation reports from different police stations and units of the Cebu City Police Office since Maundy Thursday, but nothing major occurred that could have marred the celebration.“Based on our monitoring, no major or significant incident occurred. Naa’y mga ginagmay but dili sad related sa Holy Week. So generally peaceful ra ang syudad,” Santander said.

He said that despite the crowds that gathered in various areas around the city for the Holy Week rites, there was no report of violence in those areas.

Santander said there were few shooting and stabbing alarms that happened, but these were isolated cases and are not related to the celebration.

A trouble alarm was reported in barangay Lahug last Thursday when a man, who has allegedly gone insane because of the death of his child, scared his neighbors when he started shouting.

Santander said the police responded to the area and stopped the man. He was turned over to the barangay for monitoring.

Santander said there were burglaries reported, but he reminded the people that it is also their responsibility to secure their houses or establishments for the long vacation.

“Even si Mayor (Mike) Rama ming-ingon na dili pasagdan ang atong houses. Iya-iya na nga responsibility,” he said.

Santander said the crime incidents decrease during this year’s Lenten Season especially that gang members did not create any trouble unlike last year.

Last year in Banawa Hills, Santander recalled, pilgrims who paid a visit to Good Shepherd Convent were alarmed due to a shooting incident between the notorious Crips and Bloods gangs that killed one of its members and injured many others.

He said that members of Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT) deployed in the different streets in the city approached young people, believed to be gang members, who converged and told them to disperse.

Earlier, the Police Regional Office-7, through its director, Chief Supt. Ager Ontog, has declared a full alert status as majority of the police force was deployed in the streets and known tourist attractions in the region. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)