SECURITY is in place for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day weekend on November 1 to 4.
This was assured by Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) Director Rolando Nana during his inspection at the Baguio City Public Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the city.
“The security coverage we have laid out covers not only the cemeteries but also inland bus terminals where we have stationed police personnel’s to assist travelers. The key element in this security operation is police visibility, considering both its crime deterrent and reassuring effects on the public,” the regional director said.
Nana ordered police in the region to coordinate with local government units in the implementation of their respective security measures.
Local police units were also alerted to possible security and emergency situations in public cemeteries such as missing persons, medical emergencies and accidents, traffic gridlock, overcrowding and congestion, stampede, petty crime, illegal parking and vendors, swindlers impersonating priests and long-lost relatives, and possession of deadly weapons and prohibited items.
“Police assistance centers have been set up in bus terminals and major thoroughfares with the influx of people to going to the different provinces in the region to visit their departed,” Nana added.
In Baguio City, BCPO officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Eliseo Tanding accompanied the regional director in the rounds of other cemeteries in the city aside from visiting the various bus terminals.
Apollo Padagas, terminal master of Victory liner Baguio, noted a 10-percent decrease in the number of passengers due to Typhoon Rosita, but said they expects the a big volume of passengers when the weather improves.
With the expected influx of visitors for the commemoration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, police personnel were earlier deployed in the nine cemeteries of La Trindad, Benguet.
Chief Inspector Benson Macli-ing, La Trinidad Municipal Police Station chief, said police have been deployed at the Veterans Cemetery, Pyramid Memorial Park, Buyagan Cemetery, Tawang Cemetery, Poblacion Cemetery, Shamolog Cemetery, Ambiong Cementery, Bahong Cemetery and Lubas Cemetery.
Police personnel continuously make rounds and monitor visitors and cleaning operations within the cemeteries.
Macli-ing added that they have deployed 217 personnel and will be augmented by the different force multipliers comprised of junior police, barangay peacekeeping action team, women’s brigade, fire department, reservist, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
The police chief advised cemetery goers to avoid bringing deadly weapons, alcohol, gambling materials, speakers, and cigarettes inside the premises of the cemeteries.
Monitoring is up with the thousands of visitors expected at the Pyramid, Buyagan and Veterans cemetery. (With a report from Lauren Alimondo)