By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tasked police units to set up assistance desks and tighten screening of materials being brought inside crowded cemeteries and memorial parks to maximize police service and public security during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day or “Undas.”
Drawing on past Undas experience, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. on Friday said assistance desks must be equipped to address various concerns in coordination with local government units and other stakeholders, including reports of missing children, requests for medical assistance, and other emergencies.
He said security measures should also be in place for petty quarrels inside cemeteries that may turn violent, stressing the need for strict screening at the entry points and regular patrols inside to check violations of regulations like drinking sessions and use of karaoke.
“We will ensure that our personnel remain visible, approachable, and ready to respond to every request for assistance, especially from children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable individuals. Our presence must provide genuine reassurance to the public, and every police officer must serve with professionalism, compassion, and a strong sense of responsibility,” Nartatez said in a statement.
He also tasked police commanders to focus on homes that may be left unattended during the holiday break and areas where thieves could take advantage of crowds.
The PNP has mobilized more than 141,000 personnel and force multipliers nationwide for security, traffic management, and public assistance operations. The deployment covers 73,034 PNP personnel, 16,560 personnel from other government units, and 51,578 force multipliers.
Police operations will cover 5,311 cemeteries and columbaria as well as major thoroughfares, transportation hubs, places of worship, tourist destinations, and other strategic areas nationwide.
With crowds expected to swell ahead of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, Nartatez reminded cemetery-goers to guard their belongings and remain alert in crowded areas where thieves may exploit distractions.
Last year, 14,014,970 cemetery-goers were recorded nationwide, highlighting the scale of public movement during the annual observance.
The PNP expects traffic to be particularly heavy on Friday, Oct. 30, as travelers head to their provinces and other destinations.
All PNP offices and units will be under full alert status from 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 30 until 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 3.
Over 13K cops to secure Metro Manila
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Officer in Charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said they are more than ready for the expected influx of travelers during Undas 2026, with more than 13,000 police personnel to be deployed across Metro Manila to ensure peace, order, and public safety.
As part of its stringent preparations, NCRPO police districts and units have been directed to intensify patrols and police visibility in cemeteries, memorial parks, transportation hubs, major thoroughfares, commercial areas, and other places of convergence.
LGUs told to ensure safe Undas
Meanwhile, through a memorandum circular, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said local government units (LGUs) must convene their Local Peace and Order Councils to plan and prepare for the anticipated heavy influx of people in cemeteries, columbariums, and memorial parks in their areas.
LGUs must also mobilize barangay tanod (village cops), public safety forces, medical personnel, law and traffic officers, and other force multipliers and ensure the smooth flow of traffic in those convergence areas.
Based on DILG data, a total of 282,989 tanod across 42,010 barangays in the country are ready to be deployed as force multipliers alongside police forces.
Over 111,000 police personnel nationwide will also be patrolling high-volume foot traffic areas for crime deterrence.
