MPD seizes 652 banned items from visitors in Manila cemeteries on All Souls' Day
The Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Thursday, Nov. 2, that 652 prohibited items were confiscated from hundreds of thousands of visitors in Manila cemeteries on All Souls' Day.
Police confiscated flammable materials such as lighters and cigarettes from some of the over 343,310 visitors in Manila North Cemetery (MNC), Manila South Cemetery (MSC), La Loma Cemetery, and Chinese Cemetery.
MPD said 102 bottles of perfume were also confiscated from the Manila cemetery visitors from the morning until 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, no confiscated items were recorded in La Loma Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery.
As of 2 p.m., authorities said 140,000 visitors were recorded in MNC, 34,000 in MSC, 4,315 in La Loma Cemetery, and 74 visitors in Chinese Cemetery.
Police said that at 8 p.m., visitors from MNC reached 290,000, 70,000 in MSC, 14,220 in La Loma, and 90 visitors in Chinese cemeteries.
MSC and the Chinese Cemetery operated only until 5 p.m. while MSC opened at 5 a.m. and the Chinese Cemetery opened at 6 a.m.
The MNC operated from 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. while La Loma was also open from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m.
A total of 320 personnel were detailed in MNC and 204 in MSC, while 92 were in La Loma, and 37 were in Chinese cemeteries.
MPD added that 179 other personnel from different agencies, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Red Cross, among others, were deployed to the four cemeteries to maintain security.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) have been on standby in all cemeteries for visitors who may need medical assistance.
Authorities said that no incidents, such as robbery, theft, carnapping, and other crimes related to Undas, were reported.