More people expected in cemeteries today: Cops: Peaceful All Saints’ Day

CEBU, Philippines - The observance of All Saints’ Day in Cebu City, as well as in neighboring cities and towns yesterday was peaceful according to police and local government officials.

People already started visiting their departed loved ones in the various cemeteries yesterday but authorities expect a bigger crowd today, All Souls’ Day.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama checked some of the cemeteries in the city and was satisfied with the intensified police visibility in all areas.

“I am really satisfied with the police visibility kay ang moduaw sa cemetery will not be scared. Nalipay kaayo ko kay all public assistance centers have been established and the spirit of barangay bayanihan is greatly present,” Rama said.

Cebu City has a total of 22 cemeteries. The bigger and older ones are the Calamba, Carreta and Queen City Gardens. 

Among the cemeteries that Rama visited were the ones in Pardo, Labangon, Calamba, Old San Miguel Lorega, Queen City Gardens, and Cebu Memorial Park.  The mayor offered prayers and lit candles in all the cemeteries he visited.

He also visited the graves of his grandfather, Vicente Rama, relatives and friends at Cempark, as well as the graves of the 47 unidentified victims of the ill-fated MV St. Thomas Aquinas.

Police Station 3 Commander Wildemar Tiu and Police Station 6 Senior Inspector Chuc Barandog said there were no untoward incidents reported yesterday, except for minor incidents like the stealing of flowers and candles.

Barandog said that an estimated 30,000 people visited the Calamba cemetery yesterday while Tiu said that an estimated 7,000 people visited the Carreta cemetery.

Both police officials said that the crowd in all cemeteries in the city is expected to increase today.

To ensure the safety and security of the people visiting cemeteries, especially Carreta and Calamba, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were installed.

Due to the intensified police visibility, Rama commended Cebu City Police Chief Noli Romana for ensuring a peaceful and orderly observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days in the city.

In Mandaue City, police chief Sr./Supt Petronelli Baldebrin said more than 400 policemen were deployed yesterday at the police assistance centers in each of the eight cemeteries, North Bus Terminal and the six wharfs in the city.

He said there were also policemen tasked to conduct checkpoints in major city streets.

The Mandaue City Government  also set up outposts for paramedics in the city’s major cemeteries.

Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Mayor Jonas Cortes, said more than 20 paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Accident Control and Emergency Response Team are assigned at the outpost.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 director Danilo Constantino also inspected large cemeteries outside Cebu City particularly in Tangke, Talisay City and San Fernando town.

Apart from the lack of Public Assistance Centers at the Tangke Cemetery, Constantino said the security measures in the cemeteries were in place and not a single untoward incident was reported.

Police personnel who were deployed a day before All Saints’ Day will continually man their posts until tomorrow, said Constantino.

The PRO 7 chief reminded the public anew to be extra vigilant especially that more people are sure to flock the cemeteries today. — with Ria Mae Y. Booc and Flor Z.Perolina/QSB (FREEMAN)