Cops: Nov. 1 and 2 generally peaceful

CEBU, Philippines - The observation of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days was generally peaceful in Central Visayas, although there seemed to be fewer visitors to the cemeteries yesterday, Police Regional Office-7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr. said.

“Generally peaceful, particularly sa mga cemeteries. Andun pa rin tropa natin,” Garbo said, referring to the policemen deployed to guard the cemeteries and the public.

There were few crimes reported in the past two days, Garbo said, but these were immediately acted upon and did not mar the observance of the occasion.

The installation of several security cameras this year was a breakthrough, Garbo added, as they had better monitoring of the activities going in the five major cemeteries in Cebu City.

In Cebu City, a burglary was reported in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Guadalupe where an unidentified man made off with P500,000 worth of jewelry and P3,000 cash. A theft also occurred inside the Carreta Cemetery in Barangay Carreta shortly before midnight yesterday.

Garbo said the red alert status for all policemen will be maintained until Sunday when people are expected to go back to the cities from their hometowns.

Chief Insp. Wildemar Tiu, chief of the Operations Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said they recorded around 15,000 people who went to the different cemeteries in the city as of yesterday midnight.

The number decreased yesterday, Tiu said.  Last Thursday, around 20,000 people were estimated to have gone to the 23 cemeteries in Cebu City.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said the problems they encountered were those of vehicular accidents and heavy traffic in some areas.

“Peaceful and order karon compared sa regular days mas minos gani ang crowd control,” Comendador said.

In Mandaue City, Mandaue City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin said one person was arrested yesterday for bringing a gun and engaging in trouble in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City.

Baldebrin also said yesterday that there were reported 11 traffic accidents in the city, seven on Nov. 1 and four on Nov. 2, but all were minor incidents.

“Malinawon ang siyudad atol sa maong kasaulogan gumikan kay tanang butang nga makapainit sa tawo sama anang pagdala-dala ug hinagiban ug ilimnong makahubog atong gibawal,” Baldebrin said.

Bladed weapons were confiscated by the members of The Guardian Brotherhood Inc. who assisted the police in securing the public cemeteries in Mandaue City.

Bob Malazarte, founder of the Mandaue City Guardians Brotherhood Inc., said his group confiscated 50 bladed weapons from those who visited the public cemeteries in Mandaue City.

In Lapu-Lapu City, police also reported that no major incidents during the observance. 

–(FREEMAN)