Metro police chief starts inspecting cemeteries

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco will start conducting inspection of various cemeteries in Metro Manila on Tuesday as part of the security preparations for the All Saints’ Day.

Velasco will conduct the inspection after he ordered early this week the district directors and station commanders in Metro Manila to take the necessary security measures for the observance of All Saints’ Day under "Oplan Kaluluwa."

"We need to ensure the readiness of the entire NCRPO police force in securing not only cemeteries but also transport terminals as the country observes All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day," Velasco said in his directive.

The Metro police chief said the 17,000-strong police force has been implementing a continuous heightened alert in view of the possible spillover of sympathy terrorist attacks of international group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) especially with the death of fugitive Indonesian terrorist Fathur Roman Al-Ghozi, who was killed by policemen on Oct. 12, three months after he escaped from detention at the maximum security compound of Camp Crame.

"The threat of a terror attack is always there as evident by the recent arrest in Cotabato City of Taufek Refike, suspected ranking leader of the JI, so we should not let our guard down and be always ready for the worst scenario possible," Velasco said, following the pronouncement of President Arroyo that terror network JI is now the country’s top security threat.

Among the cemeteries that Velasco will inspect include the North Cemetery, Chinese Cemetery, La Loma Cemetery in Manila; Bagbag Cemetery in Quezon City; Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City; South Cemetery in Makati City and other public and private memorial parks in the metropolis.

He said stringent security measures will be implemented which include the banning of drinking alcoholic beverages inside the cemeteries and the bringing of deadly weapons.