THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will begin deploying personnel to Catholic churches on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023.
This is due to the large number of people who will visit churches to have the priest bless their palm fronds.
CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said there are 31 Catholic churches in the city that need security during the Holy Week.
He ordered the police station commanders to set up a police assistance desk outside the church so that the churchgoers can approach them if they encounter a problem.
One of his directives is to hang tarpaulins with safety tips on how to stay out of trouble.
“Naa man mi na-identify nga 31 ka simbahan so sa 31 ka simbahan dapat naa gyud nay mga tarpaulins nga naka display para naa didto ang mga pahimangno sa katawhan kay ang focus man gud sa activity karon although ang atong areas of concern kaning mga simbahan pero na paman tay seaports, terminals and other vital installations nato,” Dalogdog said.
(We have identified 31 churches, so in 31 churches there should be tarpaulins on display that will warn the people because the focus of the activity now is our areas of concern such as these churches, but we still have seaports, terminals and other vital installations).
Dalogdog will also assign additional personnel to police station 6 in Carbon and station 9 in Barangay Guadalupe, where the Buhing Kalbaryo will be conducted.
The Buhing Kalbaryo is a street play depicting the Passion of Christ.
When asked whether the CCPO needed augmentation forces, Dalogdog responded that it did not because all city and provincial police offices are also sending out their personnel during the Holy Week.
Even though they have not received any threats, the CCPO urged the public to keep an eye on their surroundings.
If you notice anything suspicious, it is best to immediately call the nearest police station so they can act right away, Dalogdog revealed. (AYB, TPT)