Philippines: Authorities to close Manila cemetery to tackle COVID ahead of All Saints holiday

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Philippines authorities will close Manila North Cemetery to prevent mass gatherings and the spread of coronavirus during the All Saints' Day public holiday on Thursday. People living inside the graveyard and last-minute visitors could be seen on the premises on Wednesday.

Police forces and SWAT units padlocked the graveyard in line with the government's orders leaving some of its inhabitants worried.

"We don't know where to get our daily food especially tomorrow they will lock down the cemetery. My husband's work is outside so how can he go to work if they lock us?" explained Jasmine Reyes a cemetery resident.

All Saints' Day is usually marked by celebrations and family gatherings in cemeteries in the Philippines. Numerous poor families live inside graveyards in the country.

Manila North Cemetery is the oldest and largest cemetery in the Philippines with an expansive 54 hectares (133 acres) and it is home to an estimated 6,000 slum-dwellers from 800 families.

*SOUNDBITES*

SOT, John Guiagui, Manilla Police District Chief (Tagalog): "'[During lockdown], we only allow authorized people outside residences to go out of the cemetery. Those who are below fifteen and older than sixty-five are not allowed to go out. The violators who will pass through escape stairs will be apprehended. There will be a heavy presence of policemen guarding the area."

SOT, Jasmine Reyes, cemetery resident: "They say that we will be evicted here but where will the mayor relocate us? We are not financially able to rent a house that's why we end up living here, inside the cemetery. He should give us shelter if he is to evict us here. We need a house to stay because we have nothing here. If he can give us house outside, we are willing to leave the cemetery. We know that it is not allowed to live here."

SOT, Jasmine Reyes, cemetery resident: "It is hard here given that we don't have work. We don't know where to get our daily food especially tomorrow they will lock down the cemetery. My husband's work is outside so how can he go to work if they lock us?"

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