Cemeteries rid of goons’ knives but not political daggers

PRAYERS FOR THE “MISSING” The central plaza of Manila North Cemetery is where families light candles and say prayers after failing to locate the tombs of their loved ones on All Saints’ Day in the 57-hectare public graveyard. JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines—The police may have secured the cemeteries against troublemakers on All Saints’ Day, but apparently not against attackers of the political kind.

At the Pasay City Public Cemetery, a “tabloid” almost entirely devoted to lambasting Vice President Jejomar Binay tried to find readers but ended up being a source of either amusement or annoyance for the crowds who came for the Feast of the Dead.

Copies of “Dyaryo Bistado!”—the “B” printed in the same style as that of the ubiquitous emblem found in Makati City streets and government buildings— were reportedly handed out for free by two young girls around 2 p.m. A copy obtained by the Inquirer had the cover story tackling the so-called “Hacienda Binay” or the sprawling farm in Rosario, Batangas province, which is being investigated in the Senate for allegedly being an undeclared Binay property.

It featured a cartoon showing pigs being fed by a couple, with several onlookers behind them with a thought balloon that says: “Bakit hindi kami ganito sa Makati? (Why aren’t we like this in Makati City?),” an apparent dig at the local government slogan.

Another story lashed out at Elenita Binay, the Vice President’s wife and a former Makati mayor like her husband. Another section had a reprint of a story written by Ellen Tordesillas, titled “Binay can kiss his 2016 presidential bid goodbye,” which earlier appeared on her blog and on other news sites.

Aside from these “assaults” on the supposed solemnity of All Saints’ Day, only minor disturbances were monitored by the police in Metro Manila cemeteries.

At Manila North, a 54-year-old man was arrested for causing a commotion when he suddenly grabbed his 12-year-old granddaughter and appeared to be taking her hostage.

Unarmed, Adolfo Gonzalez Jr. was later subdued by responding policemen. The man would later claim that he went berserk because he was being chased by “an evil spirit” and that he hadn’t slept for two days.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said the overall situation on “Undas” was generally peaceful. “We had only reports of deadly weapons like knives being confiscated (in cemeteries).”

On high alert since Thursday, the Philippine National Police set up frisking booths at cemetery gates also to confiscate alcoholic beverages, playing cards, portable karaoke machines and other weapons as huge crowds, including children and the elderly, endured slow-moving queues.

The Catholic Church has appealed for a solemn and prayerful observation of All Saints’ Day and urged the faithful not to turn grave sites into picnic spots. But at Manila North Cemetery, the mood was more festive than solemn as popular fast-food chains set up carts selling roasted pig, dim sum, noodles, fried chicken and steamed pork buns. With a report from Agence France-Presse