Expect stricter security despite closure of cemeteries, says Sinas

MANILA, Philippines — Police will strictly implement health rules and security measures even as all cemeteries in Metro Manila are closed during “Undas” season, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas said Tuesday.

“Actually, mas medyo mahigpit nga ngayon kasi pagdating ng [October] 29 to [November] 4, bawal na talaga so hindi naman siguro relaxed, mas mahigpit nga kasi nga absolute na walang papasok. Tapos pagdating ng 29, strict implementation na no entry na,” Sinas said in a press briefing at the NCRPO Headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City when sought about police security during Undas season.

(Actually, we are seeing stricter security measures because on Oct. 29th to Nov. 4, visits will not be allowed anymore. So it won’t be relaxed, it is stricter because there will be absolutely no entry in the cemeteries. On the 29th, there is strict implementation. No more entry.)

Meanwhile, Sinas said they have deployed police assistance desks at cemeteries because they expect more visitors to arrive a day before the closure of public and private cemeteries.

“Sa ngayon, in-e-expect namin na baka dadami ang dadalaw kaya ang pulis nandoon na nang madaling araw. So we expect ngayon saka bukas baka maghahabol pero by [Oct.] 29 definite iyon ang utos walang papasukin. We will reinforce our police assistance desk para maipatupad iyong kautusan,” the police official said responding to expectations on visitations of residents before the closure of cemeteries.

(For now, we are expecting more visitors so police officiers are there early in the morning. So we expect today and tomorrow, some people might do last-minute visits but by Oct. 29, it is definite that no one should enter. We will reinforce our police assistance desk to implement the order.)

The government ordered the temporary closure of public and private cemeteries from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4. The cemeteries, however, will be open for visitors from September 17 to November 15 but with a limited capacity of 30 percent.

EDV