Cops to secure bus terminals for All Saints' Day exodus

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy policemen to secure bus terminals in the metropolis during the All Saints’ Day break.

“We will be guiding commuters, especially the elderly, in boarding buses. We also would be on the lookout for petty criminals like pickpockets, salisi holduppers and the like,” Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, NCRPO officer-in-charge said.

He said he is coordinating with local officials in Quezon City, Pasay City and Manila for the establishment of Public Assistance Centers (PACs) in bus terminals to be manned by policemen.

 He said local government units will also be asked to provide a medical and communication team in the PACs to help the sick and the elderly commuters buy their tickets and attend to their other needs.

Laurel said the influx of commuters is expected starting Friday night since President Aquino declared Oct. 31, a Monday, a special non-working holiday.

“Because of the long weekend, we expect a big number of Filipinos going to the provinces to pay their departed loved ones a visit. So we are prepared to secure them against petty criminals in bus terminals,” said Laurel.

Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo Lim instructed Manila North Cemetery chief Eddie Noriega and Manila South Cemetery director Henry Dy to strictly prohibit the entry of bladed items, playing cards and other gambling paraphernalia, intoxicating beverages, sound systems and even pets in the cemeteries.

He said he has talked to Manila Police District officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez for the deployment of a sufficient number of policemen especially at the Manila North Cemetery, which is the biggest in Metro Manila.

Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) director Nancy Villanueva was directed to assist the traffic enforcement unit under Superintendent Reynaldo Nava in the implementation of a pre-approved traffic rerouting scheme to ease traffic congestion in areas leading to and from the cemeteries.

He also tasked Manila health department under Dr. Evangeline Rafanan to field medical personnel to attend to emergency situations in case they arise.

Lim likewise advised those who will flock to the cemeteries to be wary of petty criminals such as pickpockets who are expected to take advantage of the occasion.

“Keep your valuables close and avoid wearing expensive jewelry that may just attract snatchers and the like,” the mayor said.

He also appealed to the cemetery visitors to use the garbage receptacles in disposing of their trash, “to keep the sacred grounds of their beloved departed clean.”

Gutierrez directed his 11 police station commanders to also implement city ordinances on vending in preparation for the influx of vendors for All Saints’ Day and the approaching Yuletide season.

Gutierrez cited Lim’s Executive Order No. 8 allowing sidewalk vending on certain days, under certain conditions and at designated areas.

Under the EO, vendors shall be allowed to sell their wares only on designated vending areas from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Every vendor, upon securing permit from the City Hall’s hawkers section, shall use a table or stand measuring not more than one meter, with a distance of one and a half meter from each stand. Vendors shall also police their ranks and maintain cleanliness in their vending areas. – Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta, Nestor Etolle