Isko: Manila North Cemetery only for the dead

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is dead serious in making the historic Manila North Cemetery exclusively for the dead. Days before All Saints’ Day, he ordered the eviction of all informal settlers from the 54-hectare cemetery.

Informal settlers first came to the cemetery in the 1950s as masons, headstone makers, vendors or caretakers. Over the years, the more than 800 families there have asked city mayors to build them a school, washrooms and a church to no avail.

Now, the police say that crime and drug use are prevalent inside the cemetery, which has been become a hideout for criminals.

According to Isko, people who have lived there for 30 to 50 years should thank the city government for allowing them to stay although they should now leave.

“I will give them financial assistance so they can relocate to their respective provinces. I will even ask the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide additional support once they leave the cemetery,” he said.

During the All Saints’ Day break, more than a million visitors to the cemetery found it cleaner, safer and vendor-free.

It’s about time and kudos, of course, to the strong-willed Isko on another “correct political move.”

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It’s great that Philippine National Police officer in charge Police Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa corrected his announcement about the 59-day suspension of Police Lt. Joven de Guzman, who headed the questionable Antipolo drug raid in May.

In a media briefing on Monday, Gamboa revealed the dismissal from the service of De Guzman for grave misconduct. The policeman was also involved in the controversial 2013 drug raid in Mexico, Pampanga.

De Guzman, however, can still file a motion for reconsideration within 10 days but if no new evidence is presented in his favor, his dismissal will be considered final and executory.

I’m sure that many share the wish of whistleblower Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong that in the future, senior police officers who protect “ninja cops” will be unmasked.

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Camp Crame insiders are worried the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) may lose its title of best police regional office, an award given by top PNP officers.

The new NCRPO chief, Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, crossed swords with media and then implemented a reshuffle that affected professional and hardworking NCRPO key officers, while bringing in some 150 officers from his previous assignment.

Rumors are swirling in police camps that among his appointees to a high and sensitive position was an alleged “narco cop” on the President’s watchlist.