Friday, November 02, 2007 Kalag-kalag peaceful: Lapu police, officials
SECURITY was tight at the three cemeteries in Lapu-Lapu City, but the “unusual peace” can be attributed to the long holiday allowing people to light candles and lay flowers on the tomb of their dead.
Police Chief Louie Oppus said that except for two men they caught violating the liquor ban inside the public cemetery in Barangay Gun-ob no other incident was reported as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday.
Violations would usually happen at night, but Oppus said that the more than 100 policemen, tanods, and medical personnel he assigned to the cemeteries in Barangays Gun-ob, Poblacion and Mactan are enough to ensure the safety of the public.
“It’s different this year, very peaceful compared in previous years and this is because of the long holiday including the election day. People visited the cemetery ahead of time so nobody broke the law, so far,” he said, adding that they are also on the look out against stereos and other gadgets with loud sound.
People that benefited most from the occasion are the less fortunate, including children whose parents do not have enough to sustain their daily consumption.
“Kapin na P300 akong kita sir gikan pa sa buntag (I already earned more than P300 since this morning),” said Daryl Canonigo, Jr. 11, who earned the money from clearing the tombs of grasses and garbage for a fee in the public cemetery in Barangay Poblacion.
Heightened alert
However, his income was less this year because he no longer had his father helping him.
The elder Daryl succumbed to cancer of the liver last March, so Daryl Jr. has to work hard, being the eldest of three children, to help her mother feed them.
Oppus said heightened security alert will continue until tomorrow evening with mobile cars and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) roaming the city streets and the cemeteries in three barangays.
He also said that before the celebration, he also got the assurance from the Muslims in Barangay Basak to help watch peace and order in the city. (AIV)
