MANILA, Philippines – An estimated 7,500 people have gone to Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City to pay their respects to their dead on the annual All Saints’ Day, police said Friday.
As of 12 noon, Marikina police superintendent Antonio Cruz told INQUIRER.net that over 7,000 fave flocked to the Marikina cemetery.
In anticipation of the influx of visitors in Loyola, Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Jagmis said the Marikina police have deployed 71 of its personnel, augmented by 51 from the Eastern Police District to ensure security in the area.
“We embedded four police assistance desks to look over Loyola 24 hours. We also have policemen patrolling around the inside and outside of the cemetery,” he said.
The team leader of the Marikina security force said police were monitoring three other cemeteries in Marikina, in Barangka and Concepcion villages.
“As of this time, there were no incidents reported. All Saints’ Day here in Marikina was so far peaceful,” he said.
Marikina Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council supervisor for rescue operations Dennis Sevalla said in an interview also with INQUIRER.net that no injuries or accidents were recorded in Loyola.
He said they were expecting a larger crowd which would continue to increase until tomorrow, Saturday.
“Just very minor incidents (were reported) today, only a high blood patient,” he added.
Meanwhile, team leader for Marikina City Social Welfare and Development Office’s Lost and Found section Chona Juatas said only one was reported missing inside the cemetery.
A five-year-old boy from Binangonan, Rizal was lost on Thursday afternoon but the incident was immediately attended to by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Marikina.
The Loyola Memorial Park, in its advisory, reminded the public that bringing alcohol, gambling, and double parking were strictly prohibited within the cemetery premises.
It also advised those who would be using tents to dismantle them on or before November 4.
Some of the celebrities buried in the Loyola Memorial Park are “Master Rapper” Francis Magalona, actress Nida Blanca, newspaper founder Betty Go-Belmonte, actress Julie Vega, among others.
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