For all saints’, all souls’ days: PRO-7 to bolster region’s security

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 will deploy 300 new police recruits all over the region to augment the local police in maintaining peace and order during the observance of  All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

Superintendent Renato Dugan, Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Division chief, said 300 new recruits from Regional Public Safety Battalion will be downloaded to the different police offices in the region starting yesterday.

He said these new police officers will boost their current force and will be of big help to maintain the security and safety of the public on November 1 and 2.

Senior Superintendent Marciano Batiancila, Regional Police Community Relations chief, said his office will be distributing crime prevention flyers next week.

He reminded the public that deadly weapons, bringing of sound system and liquors, including illegal gambling, are prohibited in public places, especially in public cemeteries, during the celebrations.

He added that PRO-7 may be placed under heightened alert on October 30, a day before All Saints’ Day.

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, deputy regional director for operations, said , PRO-7 has prepared a command memorandum circular for the security of the celebrations.

In Cebu City, Superintendent Alet Virtucio, deputy city director for administration, said city director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana prepared a Letter of Instruction to the different station chiefs in the city outlining measures for public safety.

Virtucio said Romana met with Mayor Michael Rama on Thursday and identified cemeteries with special concerns, such as Carreta and Calamba cemeteries and the cemeteries located in the mountain barangays.

He added that closed circuit television cameras will be installed in Carreta and Calamba to be provided by the local government unit.

Police officers will be deployed in the different cemeteries which will be complimented by the barangay tanods and the Barangay Intelligence Network and other force multipliers, Virtucio said.

Romana also directed the 11 station chiefs to put up a Police Assistance Desk in front of the 27 cemeteries in the city so that it will be visible to the public in case they will need assistance.

Cebu Provincial Police Office, which looks after most number of cemeteries in Cebu, is divided into two sectors: the north and south sectors.

The north and south sectors will be manned by Superintendent Anthony Bagarinao and Superintendent Renato Malazarte, respectively, and will be supervised by Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac.

On November 1 and 2, Cebu will secure 134 cemeteries and 15 terminals; establish 63 Public Assistance Centers; and deploy 1,200 PNP personnel which will be complemented by 3,000 force multipliers. — Bryner L. Diaz/JMD (FREEMAN)