CEBU CITY—To ensure a safe and peaceful observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Cebu, authorities here have put in place tight security measures in public cemeteries, seaports, airport, bus terminals and various tourist destinations around the province.
While Cebu remains peaceful, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) said the police are not taking chances.
CPPO Spokesman and Police Community Relations Chief Supt. Virgilio Bayon-on said security in the province of Cebu is tight, especially in major cemeteries and tourist destinations, in line with the “red alert” status of the Philippine National Police.
“We have not identified any hot spots as of now so we are focusing more on big cemeteries and crowded tourist destinations around the province,” Bayon-on said.
Among the major cemeteries in the province identified by Bayon-on are the public cemeteries of the cities of Talisay and Carcar. Additional policemen have been deployed in these cities to augment the existing police force to ensure the security of local cemeteries.
He added that while the police are focusing on securing cemeteries, tourist areas in Cebu, including the town of Oslob, where the world-famous butanding can be seen, have not been taken for granted by the police.
The United Kingdom on October 24 issued a travel advisory against going to the southern part of the Philippines, including part of Cebu province, due to “the threat of terrorism,” but Bayon-on said the police has not received any intelligence information about the said threat.
“We assure the public that the entire province of Cebu is peaceful and the police is working hard to prevent any group from sowing terror in the province,” he said.
At the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), at least 30 policemen have been assigned per shift to monitor passengers going in and out of the facility. Jonathan Tumulak, CSBT security head, said the provincial government has also deployed additional security guards and K-9 dogs to check contrabands.
From 12 midnight to 8 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, Tumulak said they monitored almost 16,000 passengers using the terminal as they went back to their hometowns to pay respects to their departed loved ones.
A heavy volume of passengers is expected on Wednesday because of the holiday, Tumulak said. The CSBT is the terminal for passenger buses going to the southern part of Cebu province.
“We urge the public to avoid carrying contrabands, such as deadly or bladed weapons, illegal drugs, even butane canisters, to ensure their travel will be smooth and safe,” Tumulak added.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 also deployed personnel in various bus terminals and main highways around the province to monitor the operations of passenger buses.
LTO 7 Operations Chief Joel Maloloy-on said LTO personnel are out to go after overspeeding and overloading passenger buses. They will also check with passengers for cases of overcharging or tripcutting.
“We urge the public to help us by reporting any illegal activities, such as overcharging or overloading. After all, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep our roads safe and our trips secured,” he said.
Police and fire personnel also made their rounds in the different cemeteries early Tuesday to check the security and safety measures being implemented. Even with the downpour on Tuesday morning, cemeteries in Cebu City—the Calamba and Carreta cemeteries—were already crowded.