MANILA, Philippines — A fire broke out beside the Bagbag Public Cemetery in Quezon City yesterday, disrupting visits to the graves of their loved ones by hundreds of people observing All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Arson investigators of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire destroyed about 21 shanties along Interior Road. Some 30 families were reportedly affected by the fire which broke out at 9:02 a.m. and put under control at 10:17 a.m.
Investigators said the fire originated on the second floor of a shanty. The cause of the blaze is still unknown.
Thirty-four fire trucks, 21 from the BFP and 13 from volunteer groups, and three ambulances rushed to the scene.
No one was reported hurt in the incident, and investigators estimated the cost of damage to property at P90,000.
Meanwhile, former interior secretary Benhur Abalos urged local government units (LGUs) to strictly regulate cemetery exhumations.
Abalos, who is running for senator in the 2025 midterm elections, expressed concern about the mishandling of the remains. “Every individual deserves a final resting place that is honored and protected,” he said.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who is seeking a district seat in Marikina, slammed the city government’s exhumation of bodies at the public cemetery.
“I condemn this incident, which is a clear case of desecrating the dead in complete disregard of the grieving families,” Pimentel said yesterday.
He cited the Local Government Code, authored by his father the late Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr., placing public cemeteries under the responsibility of city or municipal governments.
“Exhumations should never be conducted without proper authorization and consent. These actions not only disrespect the memory of those who have passed but also inflict emotional distress on their loved ones,” he said in a statement.
In the cities of Pasig and San Juan, meanwhile, more than 13,500 people visited the cemeteries.
The Pasig Catholic Cemetery recorded around 5,000 visitors yesterday morning, while the San Juan Cemetery saw 8,586 visitors as of noon. In San Juan, 4,820 visitors had already visited the cemetery on Oct. 31.
“All is good in San Juan Cemetery. Very peaceful and orderly,” San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora told The STAR.
He said the San Juan Police and city disaster risk reduction and management office emergency responders were on site to assist visitors.
The local governments of Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela recorded 27,563 visitors as of yesterday morning.
The Caloocan City Police Station reported over 10,000 visitors at public cemeteries by 9 a.m.
La Loma Cemetery received the largest number, with 3,019 visitors, while the La Loma Columbarium recorded 400 visitors, Sangandaan Cemetery (1,200), Our Lady of Grace Columbary (50), Eternal Garden (1,195), Serenity Memorial (300), Forest Park Memorial (1,200), Tala Cemetery (2,571) and Bagbaguin Cemetery (150).
In Malabon, approximately 6,088 people visited the city’s eight cemeteries, according to the Malabon disaster risk reduction and management office.
Tugatog Public Cemetery had the highest number of visitors, at 2,040.
Everlasting Peace Cemetery and Our Lady of Lourdes Eternal Park recorded 1,194 visitors, San Bartolome Parish Cemetery, 820; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Ossuary, 594; Immaculate Concepcion Parish, 294; La Purisima Concepcion, 439 and Sto. Rosario Parish Columbaria, 301.
The Valenzuela City Police Station, for its part, recorded 11,475 visitors as of noon in the city.
Polo Catholic Cemetery welcomed 600 visitors, Arkong Bato Cemetery had 650 visitors, while the Karuhatan Cemetery recorded 800 visitors.
Private cemeteries also saw a high turnout, with Ever Memorial Cemetery hosting 3,500 visitors, Tierra Santa Memorial Park (2,500 visitors), and Valenzuela Memorial Park (1,500). — Mark Ernest Villeza