Talisay police use funeral vehicle in anti-drug drive

CEBU, Philippines - Just in time for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the Talisay City police conducted yesterday a parade using a funeral car at the city's cemeteries to show residents that they are serious in diminishing illegal drugs.

Talisay chief of police in-charge, Superintendent Emerson Dante, said they took advantage of the time that a lot of people are heading to cemeteries.

 "Ini-ipon ang crowd sa sementeryo, sinamantala natin, para i-inform natin yong seriousness ng government sa kampanya laban sa druga, sumisigaw kami, Ibagsak ang drug lord! No pusher, no user at sino ang lalaban ako!," he said.

They visited three public cemeteries located in Barangays Poblacion, Cansojong and Tanke and two private cemeteries in Barangays Mohon and San Roque, South Road Property.

Last Saturday, Mayor Eduardo Gullas made sure that police preparations for the November 1 and 2 were in place. He also visited all the cemeteries in the city.

Dante assured that every entrance and exit of the cemeteries will be supervised and they will conduct rounds every 2 to 3 hours.

He said that there will be six police personnel and some barangay tanods assigned at each cemetery.

Meanwhile, City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA) head Hiram Benatiro said that today, six traffic personnel will be deployed at each cemetery in the city.

Benatiro also advised that some roads will be closed.

"Kanang likod sa Talisay City hall, himoon namu ug one way. Ang sakyanan muagi kay mu-exit lang, pero from Linao muagi, dili pwede," he said.

Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council head Alvin Santillana said two ambulances will also be on standby in the city.

One will be placed at Cansojong Public cemetery and another one will be in Poblacion.

He added that they will also place a medical station at each cemetery. —/ATO (FREEMAN)