CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine National Police in Northern Mindanao described the observance of Holy Week in Region 10 as ‘generally peaceful’ save for some minor incidents. Maj. Joann Navaro, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 10, told the Manila Bulletin on Monday, April 10, that they recorded 33 crime incidents in this year’s Semana Santa, which is 22% lower compared to 42 crime incidents in last year’s Holy Week. Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop, PRO-10 director, in a statement released also on Monday, considered the said incidents "cleared" following the identification of the suspects during the investigations. "There were incidents recorded, such as theft and physical injury, but all were monitored with immediate police interventions," Coop said in a mix of English and Filipino, adding that ‘theft’ has remained at the top of the list of incidents recorded. The regional police also recorded one drowning incident in Iligan City, which resulted in the death of one minor. Prior to the Holy Week, police deployment to various terminals, churches, and pilgrimage sites was assured by the regional police headquarters to maintain peace and order. In this city, Mayor Rolando Uy issued Executive Order No. 067-2023, which stated the guidelines to ensure a smooth Holy Week observance this year. Among the guidelines were the extensive monitoring of all areas of mass convergence and public gatherings, the liquor ban, and the no-smoking policy at the pilgrimage sites. The Malasag Walkway in Barangay Cugman and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Barangay Tablon were the top Holy Week destinations in this city. Some residents here during Holy Week also went to the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, 18.9 kilometers away from the city proper via the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Road. The wearing of facemasks was also strictly implemented across all settings, as the city government’s initiative to combat the increase of Covid-19 cases here, considering that there has been an increase of cases since the start of March this year, said Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya, the City Health Office’s top epidemiologist, in an online press briefing on April 3. As of April 3, Cagayan de Oro had 189 active cases of Covid-19, of which 103 are currently in the different hospitals here and 86 are admitted to the temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).