CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Public cemeteries in the city remained peaceful as of press time Tuesday as hundreds of security volunteers maintained order in such places, the police said Tuesday.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe said his office has not received any reports of any major incidents during the observance of All Saints' Day Tuesday. He said the cemeteries were not very crowded as others have already visited the graves of their departed loved ones during previous days.

Based on his monitoring at noon Tuesday, Buenafe said the police and security volunteers confiscated only a few such illegal items as bottles of liquor, bolos, and other bladed weapons.

He said at least 1,000 personnel were fielded Tuesday in various cemeteries around the city in addition to the deployment of security volunteers since last Saturday.

Volunteers helped man traffic, conducted searches on those who entered the cemeteries, and patrolled cemetery vicinities to ensure a peaceful and orderly observance of All Saint's Day Tuesday.

The city police remains on heightened alert, Buenafe said, because

criminals may take advantage of the fact that houses will be empty as families go to the cemetery to observe a popular Filipino tradition. He said police will also be securing ports and terminals as people start coming back to the city for work and school after the long holiday.

In Mandaue City, Police Director Noel Gillamac said that since last Oct. 28, they sent personnel to eight private and public cemeteries in the city, as well as the North Bus Terminal. Public safety desks were also set up, manned by personnel ready to assist the public needed help.

Gillamac said that compared to previous years, the crowd at the North Bus Terminal was easier to manage, as many chose to travel at the start of the long weekend and avoided the last-minute rush.

He reminded homeowners to secure their homes, preferably designating a neighbor or caretaker to keep watch while they visit the cemetery.

At the same time, he reminded the public to leave no electrical appliances unattended so as to prevent fires.