ILOILO City – This year’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day were the most peaceful Western Visayas ever had.
No one had been arrested for bringing deadly weapons or liquor, according to Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director.
“The Undas was peaceful. No one attempted or insisted on visiting cemeteries. The public really understood the situation,” Pamuspusan said.
People were forced to reschedule their cemetery visits ahead of the closure of all public and private cemeteries from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 to avoid massive gatherings that increase the risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission.
PRO-6 data showed “zero incident” and “zero confiscation” of firearms, drugs, bladed and pointed weapons, alcoholic drinks, gambling paraphernalia and karaoke/videoke machines in cemeteries before, during and after All Saints’ Day.
The data also bared that from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, only 178 crimes were recorded – 49.58 percent lower than last year’s 359 cases.
Meanwhile, 40 index crimes were recorded this year, down by 19 incidents from the 21 cases recorded in the same days last year.
Index crimes are crimes against persons and properties. The PRO-6 is focusing on eight – murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and motorcycle theft.
The public safety index, which refers to cases of reckless imprudence including vehicular accidents also dropped by 96 incidents – from 177 last year to only 81 this year.
Pamuspusan said he placed the 2,300-strong PRO-6 personnel with force multipliers on full alert and ordered his men to strictly enforce all measures declared by the Inter-Agency Task Force to avert spread COVID-19.
There were also 800 personnel deployed in 293 established Police Assistance Desks in major highways, cemeteries, airports, seaports, bus terminals, resorts, and malls across the region.
Yearly, police confiscate thousands of bladed and pointed weapons brought by people in cemeteries. Dozens of people are also being apprehended for involvement in illegal drugs, robbery, drunken brawls, possession of illegal weapons and other public disturbance.
However, all these criminal acts, violations of different laws and city and municipal ordinances and petty crimes were minimal this time as the government ordered the closure of cemeteries and memorial parks last week.
The PRO-6 director recognized the contribution of force multipliers in ensuring peace and order.
Around 580 road safety marshals were also deployed to ensure safety and observance of traffic rules.
From Sept. 17 to Nov. 15 excluding the aforementioned dates, cemeteries are open.
The police will continue its Undas security coverage and monitoring until Nov. 15./PN
