Police: 'Undas' exodus starting to peak in QC

The yearly exodus to the provinces for "Undas" (All Saints' and All Souls' Days) started to peak Thursday as the volume of passengers in some bus terminals in Metro Manila doubled, police said. Quezon City Police District head Chief Superintendent George Regis noted the increase in passenger volume after he inspected bus terminals in the city. "Ang head count sa umpisa pa lang, wala pa tayo sa actual, doble na ang sumasakay na pasahero. Dati ang average 3,000, ngayon 6,000 ang sumasakay," Regis said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said this showed many Filipinos are now going to the provinces to pay their respects to their dearly departed. The exodus is expected to reach its peak this weekend. Several bus terminals, including the Araneta Bus Terminal, are located in Quezon City. Regis said he has ordered police assistance desks set up at bus terminals, and police patrols increased. He indicated they will deploy some of the reinforcements from the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame to help secure the passengers. "PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome had sent administrative police personnel from Camp Crame to the field to help in patrol and police visibility operations," he said. Regis said these former desk-job police personnel will be made not just to pound the streets at select hours, but the whole day. — LBG, GMA News