CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Police Provincial Office Director Eric Noble yesterday said Holy Week in the province was peaceful despite the loss of nine lives caused by flooding brought about by tropical depression Crising.
“Generally, peaceful namanangating Holy Week dito sa Cebu except those sa ano, sa nangyari sa Carmen sa nabahaan unfortunately I think 9 persons has died. Matindiang weather nakalaban eh,” he said.
Because of what happened, he encouraged his men to be prepared always especially during unexpected events like a typhoon.
He commended his men for their “extraordinary effort” showed by his police during the Holy Week, to the extent that they opted to stay and rest right at the coastal areas they were guarding to ensure public safety.
Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria, too, said Holy Week was similarly peaceful in Cebu City, which he credited to the effective security put in place all over Cebu.
“Lahat ng security plans natin nasunod, which turned out na effective and peaceful ang outcome ng observance ng Holy Week” he said.
He credited the police station commanders for conducting inspections in convergence areas and personally supervising their men in their field inspections.
Doria said Easter Sunday was especially peaceful, with no untoward incidents being reported.
“Tahimik. Mostly ang mga tao nasa mall. May mga police conducting beat patrol” he said.
He also credited the cooperation by the Muslim community in the city as significantly contributing to the successful observance of the Holy Week.
“Lahat yon naging factor nanaging peaceful (ang Holy Week),” Doria said.
In Bantayan Island, Holy Week celebration was considered peaceful and successful.
Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) Chief Mario Baquiran Jr. said there was no crime reported during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, although there was an incident in which one reported to have lost his wallet that, according to the police’s assessment, might have accidentally dropped somewhere else.
“Actually may isang nagreport na nawalan daw ng wallet. A visitor from Manila. Pero ang assessment namin dun is nalaglag niya. It is zero untoward incident talaga. Zero crime,” Baquiran said.
A total of 73 police personnel from CPPO were deployed in Bantayan for a tight security during the Holy Week there.
“Nagwarning kami actually, nag-announce kami, na walang bladed weapons. Walang makasakit sa mga kasama na mag-attend sa procession. And then iyung mga kahina-hinala, iyung mga nagdadala ng backpack na-follow naman lahat,” he said.
Estimates placed the number of local and international tourists who flocked to the island during the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 30,000 to 35,000. — Ermida Q. Moradas, Mae Clydyl Avila (FREEMAN)