Alagar lauds Normin cops for keeping region generally peaceful during holidays

By A.L. RICALDE, LITO RULONA
and ANJANETTE VILLAMOR
Correspondents

POLICE yesterday declared the observance of All Souls’ Day in the city and elsewhere in northern Mindanao to be generally peaceful and orderly.

The tradition of visiting the dead in cemeteries started on Tuesday and culminated yesterday. Only Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, were declared non-working holidays this year though.

“Walay major incident that disrupted the commemoration of ‘kalagkalag,’” said Supt. Lemuel Gonda, Camp Aalagar spokesman.

Gonda said Camp Alagar has commended all police stations and units in Region 10, adding that police regional director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb was happy with their work.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesperson Chief Insp. Marvy Hortillosa said no crime took place in the cemeteries and churches during the holidays.

“Gitarong lang gyud ang pagpatuman sa mga gidili sulod sa sementeryo mao nga wala gyu’y krimen nga nahitabo,” he said.

Camp Evangelista spokesman Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez said the Army helped the police in implementing security measures throughout the region.

Martinez said there have been threats of terrorist attacks despite the end of the crisis in strife-torn Marawi City but government forces have not laid down their guard.

But amid the perennial traffic congestion and crowding on roads leading to cemeteries, and minor infractions and violations of local ordinances, Cocpo noted two separate burglaries.

These incidents happened on Wednesday in Barangay Lumbia and Barangay Nazareth.

Leoncio Ang, 61, of Block 15, Lot 8, Montana Gran Europa in Barangay Lumbia reported to the police that his house was burgalrized. The burglars carted away his 57-inch flat TV and 14 watches valued at some P100,000.

The other burglary happened at around 11 pm Wednesday on 20th Street, Nazareth.

Victim Rosemarie Ann Tan, 24, reported that a burglar also took away her brand new TV, several pairs of shoes, and an iPod.

PO3 Gershwin Abuelo said the suspect entered the pad by jimmying the door’s padlock.