CEBU CITY—More policemen in Central and Western Visayas will be deployed in cemeteries and other areas expected to be crowded during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Around 3,700 policemen would be deployed to secure the 367 cemeteries and other places of convergence in Central Visayas including bus terminals, seaports and airports, said Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, Central Visayas deputy police director for operations.
The areas where more policemen will be deployed include 141 in Cebu province, 24 in Cebu City, 8 in Mandaue City, 4 in Lapu-Lapu City, 115 in Bohol, 65 in Negros Oriental and 7 in Siquijor.
Oppus said more than 1,000 “force multipliers” or peace-keeping volunteers and village watchmen would also help secure the cemeteries.
Regional police officials have also been designated to supervise and monitor security preparations and measures in provinces and major cities in Central Visayas.
Lapses
Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Western Visayas police director, said more policemen will be assigned in cemeteries, churches and other areas in the region expected to be filled with people for the annual holidays.
Querol also ordered the deployment of members of the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion and of the Special Weapons and Tactics in strategic areas to help prevent crime and terror attacks.
Peace-keeping volunteers would also be mobilized to augment police units in crime prevention, monitoring, intelligence gathering and rescue operations.
Police assistance centers would also be set up along highways and near cemeteries and transport terminals, according to Querol.
The bringing of alcoholic drinks and weapons as well as gambling would be prohibited in cemeteries, according to the police directive.
In Iloilo City, at least 500 policemen will be deployed starting Monday in 16 cemeteries.
Checkpoints would be set up especially in streets near cemeteries, according to Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, city police director.
Security measures have also been tightened in key tourist destinations including Boracay Island because of the expected influx of tourists due to the long holiday.
Dionisio Salme, president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., a group of business owners on the island, said most resorts and hotels on the island had been fully booked since Friday.
Most visitors were domestic tourists but many foreign tourists were also on the island for Halloween parties and events organized by expatriates in Boracay.