Private memorial park bans solicitors, con artists

MANILA, Philippines - Not just bladed weapons and liquor were banned from cemeteries yesterday.    

At a private memorial park in Novaliches, Quezon City, visitors were warned against solicitors, con artists and those who take flowers and candles from tombs.

Through the memorial park’s public address system, a cemetery staff reminded visitors to immediately report individuals who solicit money or material contributions. According to the staff, solicitation of any kind was prohibited in the cemetery.

“Please report to us anyone who would solicit anything from you,” the staff said in Filipino.

This, however, did not stop others from approaching visitors in tents to ask for donations.

A woman carrying an envelope bearing the logo of some religious mission approached the tent of one family to seek a donation.

Caviteños visit their departed relatives at the Bacoor Catholic Cemetery. MIKE AMOROSO

To the surprise of the family, the woman started singing a gospel song. One of them eventually pulled out a P20 bill just as the woman was about to finish her song.

With no one telling her that solicitation was not allowed, she transferred to the tent of another family.

In another announcement, the cemetery staff also reminded visitors to report anyone taking candles and flowers from the grave.

But according to the police, no one was arrested as of yesterday, at least in the cemeteries in the Novaliches district. 

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, Jr., commander of the Quezon City Police District-Station 4, said no one was apprehended by his personnel posted at the cemeteries.

He said they were only able to confiscate prohibited items like liquor and bladed weapons.

The QCPD-Station 4 covers the Novaliches area, where many of the cemeteries in Quezon City are located.

Filipino-Chinese offer candles and flowers to honor their dead at the Chinese Cemetery in Caloocan City yesterday. BOY SANTOS

A Catholic bishop also reminded the public yesterday to be wary of fake priests offering to bless the dead for money.

Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, head of the public affairs office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said security guards at cemeteries and persons approached by these priests should check their Church-issued ID cards to make sure they are for real. 

“There are these persons who offer themselves as priests and this is a day for them because there are so many people in the cemeteries who would like the tombs of their relatives to be blessed,” he told AFP.

Reports have indicated that the fake priests approach people at cemeteries - especially the larger ones - and offer prayers in exchange for cash. 

Over 80 percent of the Philippines’ 94.9 million people are Catholics who traditionally observe All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 with visits to the cemetery to pray for the dead.