'Metro Manila peaceful during Cory's funeral-wake'

MANILA, Philippines - It was a relatively quiet and peaceful Metro Manila during the five-day funeral wake of former President Corazon Aquino.

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said all police precincts in Metro Manila recorded zero crime incidents, attributing the absence of petty crimes to the people who went out to the streets to show their support for the former president.

Rosales said the NCRPO particularly addressed the security concerns surrounding the wake and funeral arrangements of the former president.

Mrs. Aquino died Saturday at age 76 after a year-long battle with colon cancer.

Over the last five days, hundreds of thousands of mourners filed past her open casket, first at the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium in San Juan and then at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.

Family, friends and former aides crowded into the Manila Cathedral since Monday to eulogize Mrs. Aquino, who led the 1986 people power uprising and drove away the 20-year repressive rule of Ferdinand Marcos.

The funeral on Wednesday took nine hours to cover the 20 kilometers from the Manila Cathedral to the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City, with hundreds of thousands lining the route to pay tribute to the democracy icon.

“Even the Aquino family were satisfied with the way we addressed problems during the wake, vigil and burial of the late president,” Rosales said.

He said the NCRPO and the Aquinos had discussed possible security scenarios, such as petty crimes and thefts, which could happen during the five-day wake.

“We were dealing with VIPs and people from all walks of life who are very eager to have a last glimpse of the former president, plus the availability of parking spaces for them. We were able to address those problems,” Rosales said.

The NCRPO, along with the five police districts in Metro Manila, reported no major crime incidents occurred in all the venues where Mrs. Aquino’s remains were brought.

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), however, reported 103 people were hurt during last Wednesday’s funeral march.

The PNRC added two people had to be taken to Asian Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

PNRC Safety Services Manager Benjamin Delfin said more than 100 staff and volunteers were deployed to provide first aid to the thousands who joined the funeral convoy.

Rosales admitted the police did not anticipate the huge number of people who braved the rains to show their support for the former president.

Even the Aquino family was surprised by the show of support and sympathy from the people, he said.

Rosales pointed out that it took the funeral cortege over nine hours to negotiate through the huge crowd of rain-soaked supporters who waited for hours along the 20-kilometer route of the procession to bid farewell to Mrs. Aquino.

“It was a mammoth crowd. We expected Mrs. Aquino to be buried between five to six hours but it took us a little bit longer,” Rosales said.

Rosales added the NCRPO made no estimate of the huge crowd that showed up in last Wednesday’s funeral procession. – With Mayen Jaymalin