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'All set' for Aquino interment on Wednesday - police


Workers on Tuesday make the finishing touches on what they said was "the simple tomb" of former President Cory Aquino. Sophia Dedace
With extensive preparations and tight security measures in place, everything is set for the funeral of former President Corazon Aquino on Wednesday, police said Tuesday. The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) said it had bolstered security for the event, with the deployment of over 700 policemen for the funeral procession starting from the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to Mrs. Aquino’s final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park (MMP) in Parañaque City. “It’s all systems go tomorrow. If there would be any changes, we will surely let the media and the public know," said NCRPO spokesperson Superintendent Rommel Miranda in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. He added that the deployment consists of 291 policemen from the Southern Police District, 200 lawmen from the National Police’s Regional Mobile Group, and 189 members of the Manila Police District. Miranda said that about 140 village watchmen (barangay tanod) and civilian volunteers would also help beef up security. The deployment is divided into traffic direction and control, route security, area security, crowd control and convoy escort, Miranda said. Lamberto Peña, park manager of the Manila Memorial Park said that the park’s administration had closely coordinated with the police and organizers of Mrs. Aquino’s memorial service so that the interment would be orderly. “As much as possible, we want the event to be solemn," Peña told GMANews.TV. Workers hired by the Aquino family had already finished preparing the burial site on Tuesday afternoon. Her tomb would be beside her husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was assassinated on August 21, 1983. “Sinimulan namin ‘nung Saturday morning. Halos 24 hours kami nag-trabaho, ngayon tapos na. (We started working since Saturday. After working for almost 24 hours daily, we’re finally finished," said Ruben Roxas, head foreman of the 12-man team fixing the site. “Gusto ng pamilya na simple lang. Kita niyo naman, simpleng-simple nga. Hindi katulad nung mga ibang puntod dito (The family wanted it simple. Isn’t it obvious that it’s quite simple, unlike the other tombs here.)," Roxas added. Roxas, who is among the four workers who would seal Mrs. Aquino’s tomb on Wednesday, added that he is honored to take part in the historic occasion. “Ito na yung kontribusyon ko sa kaniya (This is my tribute to Mrs. Aquino)," he said. Route to Manila Memorial Deedee Siytangco, Mrs. Aquino’s close aide and former spokesperson, told GMANews.TV that the Aquino family was expecting the crowd to swell during the interment at the Manila Memorial Park. “Mas marami pa na tao siguro kaysa dun sa procession to Manila Cathedral (There will be more people than those who took part in the procession to Manila Cathedral)," Siytangco said of Monday’s procession from La Salle Greenhills that lasted for almost five hours because of the hordes of people who came to participate in the procession. [See: People Power relived during Aquino cortege in Manila. Despite the expected scenario, the park’s administration said it is gearing up for the magnitude of supporters to pay their respects and bid farewell to Mrs. Aquino. “We have prepared parking areas for the guests, mourners and supporters. Projection screens will also be scattered all over the park," said Peña. He likewise urged those planning to go to the memorial park to respect the family’s privacy and maintain the event’s solemnity. On Wednesday, the presidential cortege is expected to leave the Manila Cathedral at 11 a.m. after a Requiem Mass at 9 a. m. The route will be as follows: From the Manila Cathedral, the convoy will turn left to Roxas Boulevard, left to Quirino Avenue, right to the South Luzon Expressway, take the Sucat exit in Parañaque, turn right to Dr. A. Santos Avenue (formerly Sucat Road), and turn left to enter the Manila Memorial Park. Miranda said that even as no road along the route would be closed to traffic, the motorists are “advised to take an alternate route to avoid being caught in traffic." — Sophia Dedace with Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
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