The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday described the national observance of All Saints’ Day as generally peaceful and orderly despite the arrest of at least five men for alleged illegal possession of firearms while another man reportedly died of electrocution.
In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said no significant incidents were monitored nationwide except for the electrocution of a man at the Eternal Peace Memorial Park in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected more than 24 tons of trash in the vicinity of various cemeteries in the National Capital Region during the observance of Undas.
“I extend the gratitude of the national leadership to all PNP units, partner agencies, NGOs, LGUs (local government units), and volunteers for making this happen. These best practices shall henceforth be our template in similar public safety operations for upcoming major public events,” Azurin said.
“These police units will remain in their posts until public activityhas returned to normal,” Azurin said.
The Southern Police District identified the suspected holders of unlicensed firearms as Owwamar Kasan, 22; Danilo Conot, 56; Leonie Carpio, 29; Gregorio Donor III, 30, and John Kennedy Ibañez, 22.
Kasan was nabbed while in possession of a .22-caliber revolver with two bullets inside the Palanyag Cemetery in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque on Oct. 31
He was charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) before the city prosecutors office.
On the same day, Conot, Carpio, Donor and Ibañez were also arrested after a concerned citizen called up the police and informed them about a drinking session inside the Manila Memorial Park in Barangay BF Homes.
Based on the complaint, the group fired a gun while drinking liquors inside the cemetery at about 4 a.m.
Responding policemen recovered one Armscor .38-caliber 38 revolver with five live ammunitions from suspect Conot. During the arrest, Conot’s friends resisted and insulted the lawmen.
Aside from RA 10591, the suspects will also be sued for creating alarm and scandal in addition to resisting arrest.
Littering appeared to have been rampant despite the appeal of local governments and various environmental groups to the people to avoid dumping and abandon waste at the cemeteries during the solemn occasion annually observed from Nov. 1 and 2.
Members of the Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG), the MMDA’s team in charge of maintaining the cleanliness in the vicinity of cemeteries and memorial parks, collected a total of 85.2 cubic meter (seven truckloads) of garbage from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 covering 26 cemeteries in Metro Manila.
An MMDA information officer said the MPCG collected the pile of garbage only in the vicinity and outside the cemeteries, adding that local government units will be the one to clean up the waste inside.
The Quezon City government and environmental group Ecowaste Coalition earlier sought public cooperation in making the cemeteries trash-free.
In a statement, Quezon City Ma or Joy Belmonte emphasized the importance of ensuring the cleanliness of the surroundings “for the health, safety and convenience” of all cemetery visitors.
Ecowaste had urged cemetery visitors and vendors not to desecrate Undas and observe instead B.T.S. (Bawal magTapon sa Sementeryo) for a healthier and safer remembrance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day The group maintained that it is unacceptable to leave trash, big or small, in the final resting place of the dead.