Public reminded: Remain vigilant

CEBU, Philippines - Although authorities reported a relatively uneventful observance of All Saints’ Day yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday reminded the public to remain vigilant and observant of their surroundings.

“I’m always worried, hoping and praying that the people would be vigilant. It only takes one bomb and everything will affect everything,” he told reporters.

He is one who would rather be paranoid than sorry, and commended the police yesterday for doing their job.

Commuters, meanwhile, are advised to take early trips today to help ease the expected crippling traffic.

Cebu South Bus Terminal Security Management Chief Jonathan Tumulak said people who observed All Saints’ Day yesterday and today’s All Souls’ Day in their respective towns and provinces are expected to start returning to Cebu as early as 5 a.m. today.

“Dapat dili mo maglangay aron di mo matanggong ug di mo maabtan sa trapik. Mas maayo kon ma-anam-anam mo og gikan,” he said.

Normally, Tumulak said, inbound passengers continue to pour into land and sea transportation terminals in Cebu following the two-day traditional Christian celebrations.

This is aside from several passengers who would still flock the terminal to go to their hometowns today to catch up with All Souls’ Day activities.

Tumulak said they did not encounter difficulties in managing the crowd at the terminal because people cooperated and that there are fewer passengers.

“Mingaw man. Gamay ra og pasahero karon (yesterday),” he said.

At the Police Regional Office 7, Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño said the observance of the Kalag-Kalag in the region was so far "very peaceful" and no untoward incidents were reported.

In the Philippines, although November 1 is All Saints’ Day yet, Filipinos already flock to the cemeteries to pay their respects and offer prayers to departed loved ones.

"Very peaceful, normal ang situation. Walang na receive na report from our field units, or commanders natin yung untoward incidents. Walang na report. Ang latest na-report as of 11 a.m. today ay very peaceful," said the PRO-7 director.

He said an incident in Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City where an old woman was killed by her son was not related to the observance of Kalag-Kalag.

He said they are bracing for a surge of people going to cemeteries, as is the practice by all Christians in the country.

"Naka-alerto ang ating mga pulis doon sa mga most wanted person, high-value target diyan sa sementeryo (na) dumadalaw din sa kanilang departed loved ones," he said.

The police general said he placed all cemeteries in Central Visayas under a 24-hour surveillance by having his men do so in two or three shifts.

As to the dismantling of checkpoints following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, Taliño said it did not mean there would be no checkpoints during Kalag-kalag.

"Hindi ibig sabihin hindi tayo mag-conduct ng checkpoint. Sinasabi doon ay except during drug net operation kung saan may A1 operation. Kung ang kriminal ay dadaan doon sa lugar na yon, pwede mag-conduct ng operation ang police," he said.

Taliño said fixed checkpoints are already being avoided by criminals they are shifting to mobile checkpoints.

Meanwhile, a check with a few cities of Cebu showed no untoward incidents related to Kalag-kalag had been reported so far.

PO1 Romanito Dinapo, Talisay City Police Station desk officer, said residents followed the rules posted on items prohibited inside cemeteries, like bladed weapons, intoxicating drinks, loud sound systems, and gambling paraphernalia.

In the City of Naga, PO3 Ken Cabrera said, they too, did not receive any report. Despite this, he said, they are not letting their guards done and by continuing to heighten security in cemeteries as well as doing their rounds.

In Mandaue City, the observance of All Saints’ Day yesterday was relatively peaceful with no major untoward incidents reported except the usual cases of confiscation of bladed weapons and other items prohibited inside cemeteries.

Mandaue City Police Office Director Roberto Alanas said he personally conducted a roving patrol in cemeteries yesterday and did not receive any major incident related to the Kalag-kalag.

"Normal ang sitwasyon. Sana ganito din bukas (today) na peaceful," Alanas said.

He said another minor problem he observed was traffic congestion at the road leading to the St. Joseph Roman Catholic cemetery along B.B. Cabahug Street in Barangay Guizo.

He expected that more people would go to cemeteries today, All Souls’ Day, despite it not being declared a non-working holiday.

Because of this, he said, they would maintain a full alert status and continue to deploy personnel in cemeteries and other public convergence areas like terminals.

Alanas likewise said that their assistance desks and centers will remain open until Wednesday.

In Cebu City, at least 2, 560 policemen, barangay tanods, volunteers, auxiliary police, and members of the Bureau of Bureau of Fire Protection and of City Hall’s Prevention, Restoration, Order helped keep the peace in its cemeteries.

City Hall supported them by setting aside P1.3 million for their meals from last Monday up to today.