20,000 cops, volunteers to secure cemeteries

MANILA, Philippines - At least 20,000 policemen, tanods and volunteers will be deployed starting today in 87 cemeteries in Metro Manila as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) aims for a “crime-free” observance of the All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said 10,000 policemen would man the 98 police assistance desks (PADs) in front of cemeteries while force multipliers like barangay tanods, bantay bayan, radio groups and volunteers to control the flow of traffic and secure parking lots.

So far, Espina said Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, chief of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operating unit (RPIOU), has not monitored any group out to sow violence during the celebrations of the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

The NCRPO already started deploying policemen to man bus terminals, seaports and airports as people left for the provinces.

Espina said that today, the NCRPO will be placed on heightened alert and policemen will watch out for those trying to sneak banned items – firearms, deadly weapons, liquor and loud equipment such as karaoke machines – into cemeteries.

“We wanted a serene atmosphere inside cemeteries so we must confiscate all banned items as this would help us attain our goal of a crime-free celebration,” he said.

The NCRPO chief warned criminals against taking advantage of the situation as “we are at every nook and corner of the cemeteries and prepared to arrest them.”

Traffic rerouted in Caloocan, Navotas

Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri announced yesterday the traffic re-routing scheme in the city for All Saints’ and All Souls’ days. He said the traffic plan will be implemented beginning tomorrow.

Motorists going to Eternal Garden coming from Sta. Quiteria are advised to take Reparo Road and enter the main gate of the memorial park. From Quirino Highway/Novaliches and A. Bonifacio/Balintawak, motorists will be allowed to take the Laland Drive gate. Those coming from EDSA should take the Reparo Service Road and enter the main gate.

Motorists from Eternal Garden are the only ones allowed to exit through the Baesa gate and head toward Quirino Highway.

Police said the main roads at the Caloocan-Malabon boundary (Tugatog and Letre) will be closed to traffic.

Motorists headed for Manila are advised to turn right on 4th Avenue, turn left to F. Roxas and go straight to R. Papa. Police said that F. Roxas will be a one-way road toward Manila.

In Navotas, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said that starting tomorrow, the stretch of Gov. Pascual from Bacog street to R. Padilla street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

He also ordered operatives of the City Traffic and Parking Management Office, Task Force Disiplina and the city police to coordinate with each other and patrol the city’s three cemeteries.

Days before the day of remembrance of the departed, city residents have been trooping to the City Public Cemetery, the Catholic Cemetery and the Immaculate Garden to spruce up the tombs of their departed loved ones. – Non Alquitran, Jerry Botial