Undas more orderly at Manila North Cemetery this year —police

Police on Friday said this year's observation of All Saints Day at Manila North Cemetery was more orderly compared to that of the previous year.

"Sinasabi ng mga tao ngayon ay mapayapa, tahimik, tuloy-tuloy. Ang tao ay patuloy na nakakaikot pa. Hindi katulad noong nakaraan na pumipila sila, kasi nga yung bumibili ng pagkain sa paligid ng circle," said Police Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo Magdaluyo, head of Manila North Cemetery Task Group.

"Ngayon hindi, tuloy-tuloy ang pagdaloy ng mga tao. Labas-pasok."

Magdaluyo said no untoward incident such as snatching was reported as of 12 noon and assured the public that the police is on top of the situation.

Prior to the observance of All Saints Day this year, the Manila City government evicted informal settlers and prohibited vendors from doing business inside the 54-hectare cemetery.

As of 12 p.m., the crowd count in the cemetery reached 340,000. Automatic clickers monitor the number of people entering its premises.

Magdaluyo said that the one million mark may be reached in the afternoon.

As of 11:45 p.m., cloudy skies were over the cemetery.

Most of the medical concerns encountered by visitors were difficulty in breathing, high blood pressure, and minor injuries, according to the Philippine Red Cross stationed onsite.

Speakers for the PA system are also installed in key parts of the cemetery for important announcements and paging services for visitors who got separated from their companions.

Confiscated items consists mainly of flammable materials such as alcohols,  perfumes, and lighters which reached the count of 3,100 as of 12 p.m.

Seventy-five bladed weapons and 590 packs of cigarettes were also blocked at the security screening. —KBK, GMA News