A man was caught in possession of a gun as he tried to enter the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City on Thursday, Eastern Police District (EPD) Director C/ Supt. Bernabe Balba said.
Balba said the gun owner showed documents but they still confiscated the gun and will further investigate the incident.
“Kanina, merong nasita na merong baril, kaya iniimbestigahan natin, pero meron siyang pinakitang license (Someone was accosted earlier but we are still investigating the incident. The man showed the gun’s license),” Balba told INQUIRER.net at the Loyola Memorial Park.
Even if guns are licensed, authorities are preventing armed people from entering cemeteries to avoid unexpected violence.
But despite the incident, he said cemeteries in the cities under EPD’s jurisdiction — Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and San Juan — remain peaceful.
“Okay naman, wala pa naman akong na-receive na mga masyadong malaking incident, puro peaceful lang ‘yong mga lugar nila (We didn’t receive reports of big incidents. These places are peaceful),” the EPD chief said.
Thousands have flocked to cemeteries at the eastern side of Metro Manila. At the Loyola Memorial Park, 21,920 people are still inside the park as of 4:00 p.m. The Marikina City Police said that from 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, they have recorded 29,637 visitors.
The latest EPD reports stated that 58,140 have already visited cemeteries in Marikina (24,720), Pasig (21,300), Mandaluyong (9,020), and San Juan (3,100).
Balba said that his trips to different cemeteries were to ensure that security measures are in top form. Still, he reminded police officers to stay alert to avoid any untoward events.
“Maging alerto ‘yong mga tropa, magmatyag, tumulong na maging matahimik at maayos ang pagdalaw dito ng mga tao (Troops should be alert and vigilant so the visit to cemeteries of people would be peaceful),” he added. /ee