139 bladed weapons seized at Manila North Cemetery

The police confiscated at least 139 bladed weapons Wednesday at the North Cemetery in Manila City as big-name personalities are expected to visit the site in the coming hours. Radio dzEC reported that the Manila Police District Station 3 had seized these weapons from people going into the cemetery. Deposed President Joseph Estrada was earlier reportedly set to visit the area Wednesday to avoid the expected crowds on All Saints's Day. Ferdie Ramos, the former president's media liaison officer, earlier said Estrada would arrive at the tomb of his late bosom buddy, Fernando Poe Jr, between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. As of posting time, however, Estrada was nowhere in sight. The Manila police has already given its consent to allow Estrada's convoy to enter the main cemetery gate, which remains closed to the public. Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, MPD Station 3 commander, was quoted by GMA News as saying that he considered the health status of the 70-year-old Estrada. The North Cemetery also "hosts" the pyramid-shaped mausoleum of the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. In a related development, Sapitula said he and his men have orders to confiscate other "banned" items such as liquor, playing cards, kites, and stereo sets. Security was tight at the 54-hectare North Cemetery, the largest public cemetery in Metro Manila, as the MPD deployed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and K-9 teams there. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim also personally inspected the cemetery before noon, the dzEC report said. - GMANews.TV