THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will start deploying personnel on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in places where people gather to observe the Holy Week.
It will also assign policemen in Barangay Guadalupe on Good Friday, April 7, for the Buhing Kalbaryo activity, a reenactment of Jesus Christ's journey to the crucifixion.
CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said areas where religious rites are performed will be the focus of their deployment to prevent crimes from happening.
These are the Good Shepherd in Banawa, Tabor Hills in Barangay Talamban and Barangay Guadalupe, among others.
The CCPO will also provide security to big Catholic churches that will open on Holy Thursday and Good Friday for the Visita Iglesia.
Dalogdog ordered the police station commanders to visit the churches to find out what could be done to safeguard the security of 30 Catholic churches in their respective jurisdiction.
Also on Monday, April 3, tourist cops will be stationed in Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro, Sirao Garden, Temple of Leah, Magellan's cross and the Carbon public market.
“Sa Holy Week dili lang ang mga simbahan ang atong areas of concern naa pud tay gina-consider kining places of worship kay mao man gud na ang pag commemorate this year’s Lenten season. Aside from that gi-consider nato ang mga sea ports, terminals, duna kitay upat ka terminals, tulo ka sea ports, pabutangan nato didto og mga police assistance desk,” Dalogdog stated.
(In Holy Week, our areas of concern are not only the churches, we also consider these places of worship because these sites of worship mark this year’s Lenten season. Aside from that, we are also considering our sea ports, terminals, we have four terminals, three sea ports, we will put police assistance desks there).
Nonetheless, despite not receiving any threats against the Holy Week activities, the police are still on alert.
Dalogdog ordered all police stations in the city to conduct random checkpoints in an effort to apprehend criminals who are planning to commit crimes.
The CCPO advised the public not to leave their properties unattended to deter criminals from breaking into their homes and to refrain from posting their travels in the social media. (AYB, TPT)