Close to 1 million visit their dead in Manila

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Close to a million Filipinos visited various cemeteries in Manila Thursday afternoon to pay respect to deceased loved ones, a city police official said.

Manila Police District spokesman, Chief Inspector Erwin Margareho, said that as of 1 p.m., visitors trooping to the Manila North Cemetery had reached 950,000.

Radio reports said around 200 people were entering the three gates of the cemetery every minute

In the Manila South Cemetery, on the other hand, the number of visitors has reached 45,000, more than double with 10 a.m.’s estimate of 15,000.

And the figures, Margarejo said, “are still increasing.”

Meanwhile, police said that as of 11 a.m., 80 bladed, and other sharp items were seized from people, along with 60 alcoholic beverages.

At the south cemetery, three sharp items were confiscated, as well as 40 combustible materials.