Safety measures for Kalag-Kalag 2021 remain — CCPO exec

Situation in Bliss Cemetery in barangay Labangon on Wednesday morning, October 19, 2021. | Pegeen Maisie Sararaña

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Safety measures in all Cebu City cemeteries will remain, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

Parilla said that measures such as following a one-entrance, one-exit policy remain the same as the city plans to stick with its Kalag-Kalag plans despite the announcement from the Inter-Agency Task Force to close cemeteries nationwide.

READ: Cemeteries closed on Oct. 29 to Nov 2 for Undas 2021

READ: Cebu City plans to keep cemeteries open on Oct. 29 to Nov. 2

Parilla said police deployment will also be the same as around 500 police personnel are already in place in all cemeteries in Cebu City. This includes the 380 augmented personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion ( RMFB-7). The rest, Parilla said, were from the CCPO headquarters.

READ: 500 policemen deployed to Cebu City cemeteries — CCPO exec 

With this, Parilla said that every cemetery must follow the one-entrance, one-exit policy. They will also be strict in their no face mask, no face shield, no entry policy to make sure that the minimum health standard protocols are followed. The proper observance of social distancing inside and outside cemeteries is also eyed. 

Parilla added that the public is given 30 minutes to an hour to visit their departed loved ones. At least two police personnel will man the entry and exit points per cemetery assisted by at least eight volunteers. 

Parilla further said that their deployment per cemetery varies. 

“Depende sa gidak on sa nga sam-ang nga atoang deployan. Naa man tay identified nga pito so probably daghan,” Parilla said.

(It depends on how big the cemetery will be deployed [with police personnel]. We’ve identified seven so probably, there would be a lot [police] of them.)

Parilla is referring to Pardo Cemetery; Labangon Bliss Veterans Cemetery; Calamba Cemetery; Cabantan Cemetery; Talamban Cemetery; Carreta Cathedral Cemetery, and Carreta Sto Rosario Cemetery.

For instance in Mabolo Police Station, at least 23 police personnel were deployed to cemeteries under their jurisdiction including Cebu Memorial Park, Cabantan Cemetery, Maomawan Cemetery, Queen City Cemetery, and Chinese Ludo Cemetery.

Parilla further appeals to the public to practice self-discipline so that the observance of Kalag-Kalag in Cebu City would be peaceful and orderly.

/bmjo

READ: No minors allowed to visit Cebu City cemeteries — CCPO exec