ILOILO City – The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) has revamped its staff overseeing the city’s public cemeteries following reports that tombs were being “raided” by unscrupulous persons.
According to CENRO chief Engineer Noel Hechanova, two years ago he also reshuffled the cemetery staff due to unchecked tomb-raiding activities, especially at the public cemetery in Barangay Tanza-Timawa Zone II.
Last week, the CENRO against received information that the modus operandi resumed – devious individuals would pry open tombs, remove the skeletal remains and offer the space to families looking for vacant tombs where to bury their departed love ones.
According to Hechanova, people who wanted to bury their dead in public cemeteries must transact directly with the City Treasurer’s Office.
City Administrator Hernando Galvez recently said tomb raiders were illegally selling public cemetery niches at P35,000 each.
Hechanova said it was possible that some of the CENRO personnel were conniving with the tomb raiders.
He appealed for public help. Report the tomb raiders to the CENRO and police, he said.
The Tanza cemetery is already crowded. It has over 10,000 tombs, according to Hechanova.
The city government has long planned to decongest public cemeteries by introducing small bone boxes but nothing concrete has been done./PN
