PRO-7: Holidays were peaceful

CEBU, Philippines - The entire region remained peaceful even as cemeteries were full and the number of travelers was up in the past days, according to Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr.

That, as police intensified its pro-active measures to prevent violence by confiscating prohibited materials from inside the cemeteries.

Garbo said it helped that they strengthened their campaign in the past weeks as they prepared for the observance of All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day.

He said reports of contraband items being confiscated were not that many compared to those of previous years, which could mean that the public has become more aware.

During his inspection yesterday at the Queen City Memorial Garden, Garbo saw only a box containing 20 confiscated items like sharp-bladed objects and bottles of wine.

Chief Insp. Jane Recla, Mabolo Police Station Chief who supervised the Queen City Memorial Garden yesterday, told The FREEMAN that there was indeed a decrease in terms of number of confiscated materials. “Gamay gyud ni compared last year, usa nalang gud ka box,” she said.

Garbo lauded his men for their dedication in fatefully following the Philippine National Police guidelines. “According to plan ang security preparations natin,” he said.

He feels lucky to have hardworking city and provincial directors who are seeing to it that plans are followed.

He receives hourly updates from his men across the region.

Even General Jaime Calungsod, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations – (DIPO) Visayas, during his visit commended PRO-7 for their All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day preparations.

“Maganda ang preparations nang region at di na kailangan ang additional police, overkill na,” he said.

Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus, PRO-7 deputy for operations, told The FREEMAN they expect the order in the cemeteries to continue today.

“Ato gihapon gi-pahugtan atong operasyon especially at convergence areas parehas sa South Bus ug North Bus Terminals ug sa atong mga pier daghan nasab ang pauli,” he added. (We will continue with our operations, considering that everybody will be traveling back to work.)

Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, for his part, traveled from the northern Cebu towns to the southern towns.

“So far wala’y dakong hitabo sa probinsiya ug wala’y mga incidents sa menteryo,” he told The FREEMAN.

During his inspection, he said that all police were in place and the assistance centers were well-manned. He assigned seven inspectors who will take charge the attendance of their personnel and check if they are in complete uniform.

“Sa performance, ilang gipakita ug gipahimutang ug klaro ang kahapsay og kalinaw sa mga sam-ang,” Comendador said.

The provincial director also added that he gave all chiefs of police the discretion to let his men go home if they are just living near their respected assignments, as long as they would go back to their posts as soon as possible. – (FREEMAN)