Iloilo cops deployed to cemeteries

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (ICPO) has already deployed its personnel in cemeteries starting Saturday, Oct 23, 2021.

Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said they anticipated that many people will start trooping the cemeteries ahead of the usual observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov 1 and 2, respectively.

Police assistance desks would be placed near the cemeteries’ entrances to aid visitors.

Even last week, the IPPO already noted that there were already individuals who decided to visit their dead loved ones to avoid large crowds in the coming days.

The number of visitors is expected to grow as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has ordered the closures of cemeteries and memorial parks, as well as columbaria, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2021.

Cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria can open on other days at a limited capacity.

“We have to ensure that health protocols would be followed on people who wish to visit their departed loved ones. No exemption,” he said.

Under the IATF resolution, the said gathering is limited to 10 persons per group and only 30 percent would be allowed based on the venue’s capacity.

However, local government units (LGUs) may increase the allowable visiting capacity to 50 percent depending on the risk assessment they would make.

Still, Gorero said they would not allow drinking of liquor, gambling, and bringing in of deadly weapons inside the cemeteries.