Last night of Cory's wake: No major crime incident in Camanava

MANILA, Philippines - The Northern Police District-District Intelligence and Detective Management Division recorded no major crime in the northern part of Metro Manila during the last night of the wake of the late former President Corazon Aquino.

“Even petty crimes I haven’t receive any report yet. Maybe everybody, even criminals, wanted to convey their last respects to the late President,” Senior Inspector Augusto Mateo, NPD-DIDMD chief, told The STAR. Mateo said, as of 2 p.m. yesterday, he has not monitored any crime-related reports from the four police stations in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (Camanava) area. 

“There’s nothing yet, even a call for police assistance, wala (none),” he said, claiming that the “Cory magic” of uniting the people still works “even for the last time.” “Almost everyone, even my own two elementary kids, are talking about Tita Cory and expressed their sympathy though they only came to know her on TV,” Mateo said.

At the adjacent Caloocan City Jail, prisoners were hooked up on their television sets watching the funeral march for President Aquino. “No much activity here today, unlike on ordinary days. All inmates’ eyes are on TV watching the wake and story of the late President,” Superintendent Lyndon Torres, Caloocan City Jail warden, said.

Torres, 43, described by inmates “as tough but kind,” admitted of shedding tears for President Aquino and he watched and listened to what the former leader “had been through and what she did for our country. I was touched by her humility,” he said.

“She is the true icon of democracy. Her sacrifices for ordinary people and for the nation could never be forgotten,” Torres said.

Michael Kevin Stone, 35, a Caloocan City Jail prisoner for more than two years, said the late President’s “being religious greatly affected my personal life.” “Me and my fellow inmates here at the Caloocan City Jail felt like we were also orphaned with her demise. President Cory, though she was no longer in Malacanang continue to help the poor, and what touched me most was her closeness to God,” Stone said.

Jail Officer Veneranda Pancho, 40, Malabon City Jail administrative officer, said that she is a fan of President Aquino since the first EDSA people power. “I was a member of a student league, and I was their in EDSA I to support Mrs. Aquino,” she said.

“I admired her much for being true to her job and by doing it without any fanfare,” Pancho said. – Pete Laude