Pickpockets took advantage of the thick crowd rushing to visit public and private cemeteries Thursday, but no major incidents took place during All Saints' Day, said City Police Director Antonio Montalba.
Cogon police, the nearest police outpost in the public cemetery, said it has received several complaints from persons victimized by pickpockets.
Montalba advised the public to stay alert and avoid large crowds and to report suspicious persons or objects in cemeteries.
"They must guard their personal belongings, including their cars from potential carnappers," the police official said.
He added that while over 400-strong police personnel were deployed throughout public and private cemeteries, "the public must not solely rely on authorities and should take precautionary measures for their safety."
For security reasons, vehicles were not allowed entry to all roads leading to Bolonsiri Public Cemetery -- the city's biggest -- and all traffic had also been diverted in smaller public and private cemeteries.
Private and passenger vehicles will be limited several meters away from the cemeteries to allow for bigger walking spaces and avoid crowding that may give criminals greater chances to strike, said Montalba.
"A bigger open space in cemeteries would be conducive for police and medical personnel to respond to any untoward situation," he explained.
In his executive order, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula exempted from the No Entry regulation vehicles belonging to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Roads and Traffic Administration, media, priests, and rescue groups.
