Police brace for All Saints’/Souls’ Day celebration
The region’s police force is all set for the coming All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebration where people flock to the cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) already prepared its operational plan for the two-day celebration which cover security measures and traffic rerouting.
ICPO director Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal said they will put up police assistance centers in all cemeteries, deploy policemen in bus terminals and seaports and field policemen in churches during the holy masses.
Traditionally, more Filipinos visit the cemeteries during the All Saints’ Day (November 1) and not on November 2 which is the All Souls’ Day. People bring flowers and light candles on the tombs of their loved ones. Prayers are also offered to the dead. The Filipino-Chinese bring food and fruits inside the cemetery as part of their culture and tradition in remembering their dead.
Mongcal said the police assistance centers will be manned by policemen, barangay tanod and police auxiliary. They will conduct inspections on the people entering the cemeteries and seize items prohibited inside the cemeteries like bladed weapons, guns, alcoholic drinks and gambling paraphernalia. The cops will be on watch until there are no more people inside the cemetery. In previous years, police stayed until 9 in the evening.
Cops would also be fielded in churches during the masses. Since the All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday, Catholic churches are encouraged to hold their masses until 3 p.m. Masses would be celebrated inside the public and private cemeteries after 3 p.m.
Mongcal said drinking sessions and loud music are banned inside the cemeteries. Only religious music is allowed in order to preserve the solemnity of the celebration.
Police would be deployed in bus terminals and seaports considering the volume of people who will go to their hometowns or in the city. K-9 dogs would be an additional help to the police. The sniffing dogs will help the police determine the presence of bombs or drugs.
Mongcal added that there would also be checkpoints in entry and exit points of the city such as in Oton and Pavia.
There would also be traffic rerouting particularly in Tanza area, where the city’s biggest public cemetery is located.
The police put on their priority list the public cemeteries. In public cemeteries, there is no much space for vehicles. The flow of persons must be addressed, Mongcal said.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 regional director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas directed all the police personnel to be on full alert status during the two-day celebration.
Cuevas said, personnel from 6th Regional Mobile Group and members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will also be deployed to help prevent criminals and terrorists from taking advantage of the situation.
“Brgy tanods and other volunteer groups will also augment the police force,” Cuevas added.
Pursuant to Oplan Kalag-Kalag 2009, local police and Highway Patrol Group are required to establish Police Assistance Centers along the highways, near the cemeteries and terminals where motorists and the public can seek assistance in case of emergencies.
Police patrols cars will be roving along commercial centers, bus terminals and seaports, cemeteries, churches and major thoroughfares.
Cuevas also reminds the public to support the anti-criminality campaign of the police by becoming cautious of their safety and security during this twin occasion.
“If possible, do not to bring large amount of cash and other valuables when visiting the cemetery or churches,” he said, adding that bringing of liquor and playing cards inside the cemeteries will be banned.
The top cop also enjoins the public to always note the police hotlines in their locality for reporting of incidents or requesting for assistance. (with reports from VH Bandoquillo)
