Monday, November 03, 2008 Undas 2008 generally peaceful
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Police officials here heaved a sigh of relief after two days of round-the-clock watch as they reported a generally peaceful Halloween and All Saints' Day in the city.
Police Officer (PO) 1 Adrian Rico of the city police operations division said no major accidents, theft, petty crime, and untoward incidents were reported to their desks by their field personnel.
Except for one man who was booked last Saturday night for allegedly disturbing peace near the public cemetery, Rico said all was quiet and orderly as thousands of people trooped to the city's 10 burial grounds on Friday and Saturday.
The unidentified man was released Sunday morning after hours of detention.
Rico added that the city police force, civilian volunteer groups, emergency rescue personnel, and the special police assistance force were able to maintain order, manage traffic, and secure vital points of the city.
The city police, including the entire provincial police office, continued to be at their posts at full alert until All Souls' Day Sunday, said Rico as people who flocked to the city get to return back to their destinations in other areas.
Many of those who came to the city are expected to leave starting Sunday for their workstations and home provinces.
The city's garbage collectors meanwhile moved into action Sunday morning to rid the city and areas near various cemeteries here of November 1's "trashy" aftermath.
As early as 2 a.m., the city's garbage trucks and street sweepers were spotted cleaning the streets and loading waste thrown by people along the road enroute to the cemeteries.
At the public cemetery and the Good Shepherd Memorial Park here, tons of debris from last night's traditional event has been piled up by maintenance men.
Children with sacks and plastic bags have gone into the job of picking up empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans, as well as other "recyclable" items like pots and foam.
The children said they would sell these to junk shops and use the money as "baon" when school reopens on Monday. (JTD)
