All Saints Day "very peaceful" - police chief

CEBU, Philippines – Aside from a brief tension between medical volunteers and traffic enforcers, yesterday's observance of All Saints Day in Cebu City was orderly and "very peaceful," said city police chief Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe.

"Expected nato sa hapon magkadaghan ang tawo, but walay mga insidente o krimen na related aning pag-celebrate nato sa Kalag-kalag," Buenafe said. The city police chief himself went around the cemeteries in Cebu City starting 8am until the afternoon yesterday.

The tension occurred at the Calamba and Carreta cemeteries when the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) issued citation tickets to volunteers of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) for alleged illegal parking.

The ERUF volunteers were among those providing assistance to those visiting the cemeteries.

"Wala daw coordination between them, but anyway, what is important is that the celebration of the Kalag-kalag is very peaceful and we hope that this will continue until this occasion ends," Buenafe said.

Compared to the previous years, fewer bladed weapons and sharp instruments were reportedly confiscated this year. Buenafe attributed the same to the information campaign on the ban of any weapon that may be used for violence in the cemeteries.

"Ang mga gabantay sauna said na medyo lesser karon kay ang mga tawo na-edukar na man. Mag-obserbar ta aning okasyona solemnly. We want it peacefully celebrated so gibawal nato na including intoxicating liquor to avoid mga dili maayong mga insidente," Buenafe said.

He said the red alert status during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections shall continue until today, All Souls Day. Police will continue to patrol cemeteries in the city for 24 hours.

Buenafe also said he has enough men patrolling commercial establishments to ensure that the robbery at a furniture firm in Mandaue City yesterday morning will not happen in Cebu City.

Security cameras have also been installed at the cemeteries. (FREEMAN)