BY RUBY SILUBRICO and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – Police in Western Visayas confiscated various banned items, including deadly weapons and prohibited drugs, on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day even as they described the yearly observance that saw thousands of people flocking to cemeteries “generally peaceful.”
Based on Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) estimates, around 400,000 people went to various cemeteries, seaports, land transport terminals, open business establishments, and other areas of convergence across the region during the two-day holidays.
Superintendent Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokeswoman, said they have not recorded any major incident that disturbed peace and order.
There were no reports of severe crimes but many were caught committing prohibited acts and bearing banned items inside cemeteries, said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PRO-6 director.
Officers seized 172 bladed weapons, and arrested seven people for wielding firearms without license. Those arrested now face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, a PRO-6 report showed.
Police also arrested 19 people over illegal numbers games (violation of Republic Act 9287) and seized P1,817 in bet money, and 17 people with pending warrants of arrest.
Moreover, three people were caught in possession of 16 plastic packs of suspected shabu and a firearm, said the PRO-6.
Other incidents the police recorded were a rape case at the public cemetery in Oton, Iloilo and 33 traffic accidents – 11 in Iloilo province, 10 in Iloilo City, six in Capiz, five in Negros Occidental, and one in Aklan.
In Iloilo City in particular, around 14,000 people visited 22 cemeteries on Nov. 1, said Senior Superintendent Martin Defensor, city police director.
But various banned items were recovered from cemetery goers, he said.
They included three decks of gaming cards, three pairs of scissors, two bottles of liquor, five chopping knives, four bolos, seven cutters, 10 knives, and 10 boxes of cigarettes.
Furthermore, the recorded “total crime volume” (TCV) across Region 6 during the two-day observance was at 67 – which the PRO-6 said was a significant drop from the 142 TCV during similar days last year.
Bulalacao gave credit to the “effective implementation” of their law enforcement strategies and the help of force multipliers. “We are thankful to the public and the augmentation forces.”
The PRO-6 deployed 1,913 officers to 414 cemeteries across the region, and set up 438 police assistance hubs manned by 1,630 officers.
In addition, it sent out 639 road safety marshals to take charge of traffic congestion and road safety, and detailed 182 officers to be on watch at terminals, airports and seaports./PN
