The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will place their forces on full alert status days ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, locally known as Undas, to ensure public safety.
Col. Amante Daro, acting executive officer of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said 111,582 PNP personnel will be deployed across the country to maintain peace and order throughout the holiday period.
Daro said the police deployment will be augmented by 31,814 force multipliers drawn from local government units and volunteer organizations.
“Rest assured that your Philippine National Police will do everything to ensure safety and security, not only of our kababayans but also their property,” Daro said.
Daro noted that police officers will be stationed not only at cemeteries and columbaria, but also across major transport hubs and places of convergence, including resorts and tourist destinations where families are expected to spend the holiday.
He added that police assistance desks will be established in the vicinity of cemeteries and columbaria to assist visitors.
Emphasizing the necessity of high police visibility, Daro highlighted that over 14 million people visited cemeteries and columbaria during last year’s Undas.
Daro also said the PNP issued operational directives to relevant police units as early as October 6, outlining security protocols for the upcoming public observance.
“We will be on full alert days before (Undas). Your Philippine National Police is walking the extra mile actually,” Daro also said.
Meanwhile, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the Coast Guard will enter full alert status beginning October 29 to handle the expected surge of sea travelers at ports nationwide.
Cayabyab said the PCG will deploy 17,000 personnel alongside all available maritime assets to assist the commuting public.
“We are also going to activate passenger assistance desks in the ports nationwide to assist our (sea-going) passengers,” Cayabyab said.
She urged the public to cooperate with security personnel by reporting suspicious cargo or safety violations to maritime authorities.
“Our goal is to prevent untoward incidents. Our appeal to the passengers is to be more vigilant…to be more cooperative to ensure safety and security,” Cayabyab also said.