All Saints’ Day exodus starts; security up in key terminals

(Updated 11 p.m.) The yearly All Saints' Day exodus to the provinces started before dawn Wednesday as passengers crowded various airports, seaports and bus terminals in Metro Manila. Police heightened security around cemeteries while the military's Metro Manila command sent soldiers to help secure cemeteries and vital facilities. Radio dzBB reported that the Philippine National Police deployed uniformed and plainclothes policemen in several cemeteries nationwide. PNP chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. said he will continue to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in securing the public during the All Saints' weekend. During the All Saints weekend, police will be on the lookout for the "traditional" prohibited items such as bladed weapons and items, firearms, liquor, gambling materials and sound systems. For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed K-9 and special operations squads in seaports, and four-member sea marshal teams aboard passenger ships heading for the provinces. Coast Guard officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Danilo Abinoja ordered heightened alert for all operating units, including patrol vessels, special operations group, paramedics, and sea marshals. Bus terminals also beefed up their in-house security personnel and were stricter in enforcing security measures, including roving patrols and frisking of passengers and inspection of baggage. As early as 3 a.m., passengers crowded the Araneta bus terminal in Quezon City, with taxis and passenger jeeps crowding several lanes of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). Police and security guards were mobilized to beef up security at the Araneta Bus Terminal and at the nearby EDSA Bus Terminal, also in Quezon City. In Manila, traffic was heavy at some parts of Dimasalang near the North Cemetery as early as 6 a.m., while Aurora Boulevard near the Chinese General Hospital was closed to traffic. The 54-hectare North Cemetery is the biggest public cemetery in Metro Manila. The Manila Police District asked parents to place ID or nametags on their children in case they are separated and lost in the crowd inside the cemeteries. In eastern Metro Manila, Eastern Police District (EPD) chief Sr. Supt. Nilo dela Cruz deployed 400 policemen, soldiers and local government employees to the Loyola Memorial Park. Dela Cruz also ordered 90 policemen to the San Juan public cemetery, which former President Joseph Estrada may visit to pay his respects to his dearly departed buried there. - GMANews.TV