AROUND 3,700 policemen will be deployed to secure all the 367 cemeteries and other places of convergence in the entire Central Visayas during the celebration of the All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day next week.
Regional police officials are appointed supervisors in the different provinces and cities and are tasked to give updates, said Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, deputy director for operations of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).
“In case of lapses, the police chief in a certain locality will be answerable,” Oppus said.
The police official said aside from the 3,700 policemen, more than 1,000 force multipliers will also help the police secure the cemeteries, including the barangay tanods.
Central Command’s K9 dogs will also assist PNP in its security measures.
The deployment of troops will start tomorrow.
During the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, PRO-7 chief, said he will declare the PRO-7 on heightened alert starting midnight of Oct. 28.
There are 367 cemeteries in Region 7 and 141 of these are in Cebu province.
Cebu City has 24; eight in Mandaue City; four in Lapu-Lapu City; 115 in Bohol; 65 in Negros Oriental and seven in Siquijor.
The Maritime police will take care of the seaport security while the Cebu Coast Guard station has been on full alert starting yesterday, according to Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan.
Punzalan said inspecting all the vessels before departure is a standard operating procedure but they will be stricter during the holidays to make sure there is no overloading.
Help desks will also be put up today.
On the other hand , the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) will be conducting road worthiness check on public utility vehicles starting this Saturday until Tuesday.
LTO-7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos conferred with bus and jeepney managers and operators yesterday to discuss preparations for the long weekend.
Help desks will also be set up in public terminals, where passengers are expected to flock to come home or take a vacation during the long weekend.
In Mandaue City, nine streets will be closed starting 6 a.m. Tuesday until Thursday.
No entry signs will be installed on these streets./REPORTERS CANDEZE R. MONGAYA, JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS AND CORRESPONDENTS CHITO O. ARAGON AND JHUNNEX NAPALLACAN