Police tighten security as thousands visit Manila Memorial Park

At Manila Memorial Cemetery. INQUIRER.net / Jhoanna Ballaran

The Paranaque City Police has intensified its security at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat as thousands started flocking to the cemetery to visit their departed loved ones, a police official said on Tuesday.

Police Chief Inspector Arnold Sadorra, head of BF Homes Police Community Precinct, said that as of 10:45 a.m., around 22,000 people have already gone to the memorial park.

Sadorra said the Parañaque City Police has set up seven police assistance desks across the cemetery, deploying a total of 70 policemen, 26 field training personnel, and 10 members of the public safety battalion to ensure order and security.

“Yung mga personnel na naka-detail dito, nandyan na sila sa mga areas nila sa loob ng Manila Memorial,” Sadorra told INQUIRER.net.

(The personnel that were detailed here are already posted in areas inside the Manila Memorial Park.)

The chief said the crowd has significantly decreased this year because the All Saints’ Day holiday was on a weekday and some have already visited their dead loved ones last weekend.

Sadorra said no untoward incidents have been recorded yet and the situation at the cemetery has been peaceful and orderly as of posting.

Sadorra called on the public to cooperate with authorities by following traffic rerouting schemes, and not bringing prohibited items such as bladed weapons, playing cards, alcoholic drinks, and cigarettes.

“Sa lahat po ng mga pumapasok dito sa Manila Memorial, i-ensure lang po natin na tayo po ay makakarating ng maayos at makakauwi ng maayos,” he said.

(To all those coming here at the Manila Memorial, let us ensure that we arrive and go home safely.)

He also advised parents to keep an eye on their children and ensure that they refrain from making unnecessary noise.             /kga