1,000 cops to secure Manila cemeteries

In a bid to keep Manila’s public cemeteries safe from terrorists and criminals on All Saints Day, the Western Police District will be deploying 1,000 uniformed officers at the city-owned North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz and the South Cemetery near the Makati boundary as well as the Chinese Cemetery.

WPD chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said a command post, which will serve as nerve center of Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 operations, will be set up and manned by Manila police on Dimasalang Street.

Cops on patrol will be backed up by 20 police cars to be posted at the gates of the three cemeteries.

Complementing the security detail are four teams of the WPD Special Weapons and Tactics-Explosives and Ordnance Division.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said the city government is ready for the influx of people during the All Saints weekend.

"We started preparing two weeks ago and the facilities inside the two public cemeteries are ready. Roads have been repaired, drainage systems have been fixed and the grounds have been cleaned," Atienza said.

He reminded the public that the prohibition of alcoholic beverages, gambling and deadly weapons, including kitchen knives, would be strictly implemented and that police and city personnel would be conducting security inspections at the gates.

The mayor said vendors will not be allowed to do business along streets leading to the two cemeteries.

He warned those selling flowers or candles that they would be arrested if they insist on selling flowers in the said areas.

Atienza also urged the public to visit their dead on Oct. 31, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 – which have been declared holidays – instead of Nov. 1 when there would be too many people in the cemeteries.

The mayor also said radio stations would not be allowed to put up public address systems deemed "too noisy and disruptive.

"We are losing the solemnity of the occasion," he said.

In the past, radio stations as well as politicians have put up paging booths as a form of public service to help locate missing children and to call the attention of drivers whose vehicles are blocking another person’s vehicle.

Atienza said the city government will only allow one public address system in each cemetery to be manned by city Hall personnel.

Meanwhile the WPD Traffic Enforcement Office announced that beginning 6:00 a.m. of Oct. 31 to the afternoon of Nov. 2, Aurora Boulevard from Rizal Avenue junctions to Dimasalang Circle and its periphery roads will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Likewise, the Manila portions of Retiro Street and Dimasalang from the North Cemetery to Makiling Street will be closed.

All vehicles coming from Caloocan and Quezon City going to the Port Area are advised to take the C-3 road toward Jose Abad Santos Avenue or Radial Road.

All vehicles going to Ermita from Quezon City are advised to take D. Tuazon Street or Mayon Street to España, Gov. Forbes or Quiapo as alternate routes. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe