All Saints’, All Souls’ days in Bacolod peaceful

Thursday, November 3, 2011

THE observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days in Bacolod City was generally peaceful, said the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo).

"BCPO achieved zero casualty," said BCPO Director Ricardo De la Paz on Wednesday.

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He said there were no untoward incidents reported in different public and private cemeteries in the city during the two days.

De la Paz attributed the peaceful observance to the implementation of preventive measures in different areas of Bacolod.

The police chief earlier warned the public against bringing bladed weapons or intoxicating liquor and engaging in illegal gambling inside cemeteries.

As people are expected to flock to cemeteries, hundreds of police officers, barangay tanods (village watchmen) and volunteers were deployed in different public and private cemeteries, sea ports and bus terminals in the city.

"We maximized the deployment of PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel to secure the safety of the public," De la Paz said.

Police officers conducted patrols not only in cemeteries but also in different subdivisions to monitor the possible attack of robbers and thieves who might take advantage of the two-day activity.

During these days, De la Paz reported though that no “akyat-bahay”, pickpocket, snatching and carnapping incidents were reported.

He also cited the improved traffic situation in the city, especially at the Bacolod Public Cemetery.

Meanwhile, Noppo said that except for some minor and isolated cases, the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in other areas in Negros Occidental was relatively peaceful.

Noppo spokesperson Chief Inspector Rico Santotome Jr. said nine persons were injured in a three-vehicle mishap involving an Isuzu truck and two tricycles last Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Magallon Cadre in Moises Padilla town.

Moises Padilla police chief Robert Mansueto said the victims, which included five minors, were brought to the Municipal Health Infirmary in the town for treatment of minor injuries.

In Toboso town, two suspects were arrested by responding Philippine Army personnel and barangay officials in Barangay Bug-ang Tuesday evening after they robbed at gunpoint two teenagers of their cellphones.

One of the victims was identified as John Mark Balaod, 18, a resident of said place.

Santotome said that one of the victims, a 17-year-old female, was allegedly raped inside a sugarcane field by the suspects identified as Tata Cris De Juan, 25, of Barangay Dian-ay in nearby Escalante City, and his companion Kenneth Cuevas, 18, of Barangay Bug-ang.

Recovered from the two detained suspects were the Samsung cell phone of the victims, the red Honda motorcycle owned by De Juan and Cuevas, as well as one caliber .45 pistol used in the heist.

Additionally, four sticks of dried marijuana cigarette were recovered from Cuevas's possession during the apprehension, said Santotome.

A slew of charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8353 (rape) in relation to RA 7610 (Child Abuse Law), RA 8294 (amended Firearms Law), RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 23002) and robbery are being prepared against the duo.