Davao Catholic Cemetery. MindaNews file photo by RUBY THURSDAY MORE
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/ 30 Oct) – Some 900 policemen were deployed at around 2:30 on Tuesday to beef up security in the city’s 58 public and private cemeteries during the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day this week, a police official said.
Senior Insp. Catherine Dela Rey, Davao City Police Office acting spokesperson told reporters that there will be a maximum deployment of their personnel on November 1 and 2 during which several people are expected to visit the cemeteries.
But she added they will continue to secure the cemeteries days after the observance for the safety of late visitors.
Police assistance desks would be set up at every entrance of the cemeteries to attend to the concerns of the visitors, she said.
She said police forces will also be deployed in residential areas. She reminded homeowners to secure valuable items, lock all doors and windows to prevent thefts, and make sure appliances are unplugged and no candles are lighted before leaving their homes.
Prohibited items inside cemeteries are alcoholic beverages; pointed items such as fork, icepicks, knives; radios and other equipment that can disturb the observance other visitors; and cards and other items used for gambling.
To manage traffic, Dela Rey said they will designate only one one entrance and one exit for every cemetery.
During the sendoff ceremony at Camp Captain Domingo E. Leonor in Davao City, DCPO director Chief Supt. Alexander Tagum assured the public that all personnel and police auxiliaries are on full alert status and that they will be on a 24-hour deployment to maintain public order.
“There’s back-to-back security in all public convergence areas, seaports, airports. More security will be deployed because we expect more people will be visiting Davao,” Tagum said.
He added monitoring has been intensified in cemeteries, airports and seaports, and other possible point of entries to crack down on illegal drugs in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Task Force Davao, Public Safety and Security Command Center and K9 unit. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
