PNP: ‘Undas’ peaceful overall

Thousands of Catholic Filipinos troop to Manila North Cemetery to honor the departed in the annual observance of All Saints’ Day Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 in Manila. The All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day weekend went by without any major crime incidents, according to the Philippine National Police. AP PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ

MANILA, Philippines–Save for incidents in two cemeteries in Bulacan and Bohol, the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day weekend went by without any major crime incidents, according to the Philippine National Police.

PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor said this year’s observance of the yearly “Undas” was generally peaceful.

“It was peaceful and orderly for the most part, except for the two reported incidents in Regions III and VII,” the officer said, citing data from the PNP’s Oplan Ligtas Undas, its police security operations.

At the Baliwag Memorial Cemetery in Baliwag, Bulacan, a man identified as Christian Bertiz was stabbed by Paulo Mendoza in the middle of a heated argument at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

At around 5 a.m. the following day, Michael Buaya accidentally fired his gun, shooting himself in the head, at the Carmen Catholic Cemetery in Carmen, Bohol.

The victim was rushed to the Congressman Simeon Toribio Memorial Hospital for treatment.

At press time, there were no other incidents reported in other regions, the PNP said.

The PNP will be on full alert status until Monday afternoon, when majority of Metro Manila residents who had left for their provinces shall have returned to work.–Julie M. Aurelio