Holy Week generally peaceful – PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Despite at least seven drowning incidents documented in the country, the Philippine National Police described the observance of Holy Week as generally peaceful.

Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., PNP chief, said the drowning-related incidents addressed by the authorities were recorded in various swimming areas.

Nartatez did not give details on the specific areas where the drowning incidents occurred. However, two drowning incidents occurred in Laguna and Batangas.

In Laguna, a 32-year-old man, known only as John, drowned while swimming in a dam in Barangay Munting Ambling in Magdalena town on Wednesday. The victim’s body was recovered by responders at around 2:28 p.m.

In the waters off Barangay Bagalangit in Mabini, Batangas on Thursday, a 48-year-old drowned during a diving activity at around 5:30 p.m. Police identified the victim only as Palmon, who was pronounced dead on arrival at the United Doctors of St. Camillus De Lellis Hospital.

Minor incidents

Over 3,160 police officers secured the 13-hour procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila from Maundy Thursday from around 11:30 p.m. until Good Friday at around 12:52 p.m.

Nartatez said there were no fatalities, while 397 persons received treatment for minor injuries.

Over 99,000 police officers are securing airports, seaports, pilgrimage sites, churches, tourist destinations and other places of convergence during the Holy Week.

2.7 M passengers

An official of the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday said the PCG recorded at least 2.7 million passengers nationwide, amid the exodus of travelers during the Holy Week.

“The current monitoring is 2,689,797 passengers nationwide, both inbound and outbound. We will monitor our ports until tomorrow of 12 midnight,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told The STAR.

The PCG has placed its districts, stations and sub-stations on heightened alert from March 28 to April 5 to manage the influx of port passengers.

Cayabyab has said, despite the continuing oil crisis and high cost of living, the PCG expects no significant impact on the number of sea travelers this Holy Week, which is estimated to be around three million.

Cayabyab said no significant reduction is expected in the number of arriving and departing passengers to be recorded at seaports, compared to last year.

According to the PCG, on April 3 alone, it monitored 147,035 outbound passengers and 146,691 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide.

It added that 16 PCG districts have inspected 1,635 vessels and 2,657 motor bancas. — Bella Cariaso