DESPITE authorities’ continuous reminder regarding the prohibited objects inside the cemeteries, there were still more than a thousand of items confiscated in different cemeteries as of Friday morning, November 2.

A total of 1,243 prohibited items were confiscated by authorities at checkpoints where people and their baggage were checked and inspected upon entering the cemeteries.

It can be recalled that authorities have been issuing reminders days before the yearly observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Jason Baria said that as of 8 a.m., Friday, several banned items were intercepted by policemen who were manning the checkpoints since November 1.

Items seized were cutter (1); bolo (44); coconut remover (1); used candles (16 kilos); weighing scale (1); butane (8); portable burner (1); bladed instrument (127); alcoholic drinks (8); Assorted (forks, ballpens, pencils) 204; grass cutter (11); scissors (15); kitchen knife (9); carpenter chisel (1); mini speaker (1); pack of cigarette (52); and assorted brand cigarettes (8).

Also seized were pocket-sized Swiss knife (1); lighter (216); cigarettes (95); star screw (6); paint spray (2); scrapers (15); sticks of cigarettes (302); pointed barbeque sticks (50); matches (8); grass hook (1); sickle (1); screwdriver (21); starscrew (15); and selector Karit (1).

“Perhaps they thought that the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the local government are not serious in the implementation of this policy and may be (thinking) they could just easily pass the screening or the inspection post. But it has been proven wrong through this reported number of confiscated items, still we, PNP, and the local government through the media should continue to educate and remind our people,” Baria said.