INSPECTION. Police Regional Office-11 director, Brig. Gen. Filmore B. Escobal (center), together with his staff, conducts security preparedness and inspection of cemeteries in Davao City on Saturday (Nov. 2, 2019). PRO-11 deployed a total of 1,945 policemen in private and public cemeteries, public thoroughfares and other vital installations in Davao Region to give security and assistance to the public during Undas 2019. (Photo courtesy of PRO-11)
DAVAO CITY -- The Police Regional Office-11 (PRO11) on Sunday said the general situation in Davao Region during the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day was generally peaceful.
Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, PRO11 regional director, said there was no significant incident reported from lower units’ region-wide in relation to the celebration of Undas 2019.
However, a person was caught with illegal drugs during a checkpoint at the entrance of Davao Memorial Cemetery on Saturday. Escobal identified the suspect as Jose Charloz Celebrar, 23, resident of Km. 8 in Barangay Ulas here.
Talomo Police flagged down a Yamaha sniper motorcycle driven by the suspect and noticed the uneasiness of the suspect which prompted them to ask for the suspect’s identification card for verification.
As the suspect pulled out his card inside his black pouch, a folded white piece of paper fell on the ground. The suspect was requested to personally pick the paper which was discovered to contain dried marijuana leaves and seeds.
The police also seized from Celebrar’s possession an improvised aluminum foil pipe with burnt residue of dried marijuana leaves, identification cards, mobile phone and PHP6,600 cash.
Celebrar will be facing charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, in the entire Davao Region, 41 alcoholic drinks and a total of 272 bladed weapons were deposited while one was confiscated at cemeteries.
"We have isolated cases reported but all in all it is very peaceful and we appreciated the public’s cooperation by following the regulations being implemented," Escobal said.
Likewise, transport terminals, air and sea ports, shopping malls, churches, beach resorts, subdivisions, public markets and other places of convergence were also closely monitored by security forces.
Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel together with force multipliers have successfully served the public during the duration of the two-day event.
"Again, we are happy the public is cooperating with the authorities even with the strict security measures we implemented in cemeteries,” Escobal said.
He assured that the conduct of checkpoints will still be 24/7. (PNA)
