CCPO braces for Holy Week

The Cebu City Police Office readies for the celebration of the Holy Week as it is expected that a great number of Cebu City residents will be going home to visit their families and relatives in their respective hometowns to take advantage of the declared holidays.

CCPO’s Oplan Semana Santa "will undertake public safety services and will provide assistance to motorists, commuters and the general public; and conduct security patrols, beat patrols, and traffic management to ensure safe travel for motorists and further enhance security in terminals and places of worship."

Among the traditional religious activities and rites that will be held in different churches and sites here in Cebu City wherein the city police will provide security in order to ensure peace and order are the "Passion of the Cross" at the Good Shepherd Convent in barangay Banawa and "Pasyon sa Langub" at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine on April 5 and 6, respectively.

Also on April 6, Cebu City residents will be commemorating the "Buhing Kalbaryo 2007". This is a traditional reenactment of the agony on the cross of Christ which highlights the Lenten season.

The activity starts at the Cebu City Sports Complex passing by Cebu City Medical Center and then going straight to V. Rama Avenue to end at the Guadalupe Church.

On April 8, city police are also expected to provide security for the "Sugat" on Easter Sunday in barangay Cogon-Ramos, the Guadalupe Church, the Sto. Rosario Church, and other churches here in the city.

City policemen were also ordered to establish police assistance centers in all identified places of worship this week in their respective areas of jurisdiction. They are also expected to provide police visibility in accident or crime-prone areas, traffic congestion points, bus terminals, main thoroughfares and mall entertainment areas.

City police office director Patrocinio Comendador is this year’s overall commander of the Oplan Semana Santa. — Flor Z. Perolina/MEEV