MANILA — With barely a week before All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Eastern Police District (EPD) have started security preparations for the annual observance.
EPD director Chief Supt. Bernabe Balba set the operational guidelines and procedures to be undertaken during this coming “Undas 2018” to ensure peace and order in cemeteries and other areas.
According to Balba, the occasion creates traffic congestions along major roads leading to transport terminals, thus the occurrence of accidents are inevitable.
Target-hardening measures will also be implemented to preempt possible criminal and terroristic acts like bombing and other attacks.
Likewise, lateral coordination with the Metro East Coordinating Council (MECC) and local government units in the area will also be done.
“’Ligtas Undas 2018′ is not just a normal holiday and people expect that we can strictly implement security measures and prevent crimes that would eventually not hinder the time they can spend with their departed loved ones. So let us not fail them,” Balba added.
EPD, however, made assurances the campaign against crimes and drugs will continue amid the security preparations for All Saints’ and Souls’ Days.
Meanwhile, QCPD director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., said QCPD is all set for security preparations with maximum deployment of uniformed and plainclothes policeman to different cemeteries and columbaria for the upcoming “Undas”.
Esquivel said that as early as Oct. 26, policemen will be deployed to different cemeteries and columbaria to ensure the security of those paying respects to their dead.
Around 1,305 policemen will be deployed to man six cemeteries and 16 columbaria in Quezon City, he said.
“Our uniformed personnel will be augmented by members of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) and other force multipliers to ensure peace and order and smooth flow of traffic,” the QCPD Chief said.
“We shall also deploy cops and K9 dogs to different public transport terminals and train stations as we expect exodus of many of our kababayans to the different provinces. We therefore advise those who shall leave their homes to make sure that their houses are properly locked. Installing burglar alarms and closed circuit televisions will be of help against members of akyat-bahay,” Esquivel stressed.
He also encouraged the public to report to the established Police Assistance Desks in the cemeteries, columbaria and public transport terminals any suspicious or untoward incidents for appropriate action.
He also reminded them to refrain from bringing prohibited things such as firearms, bladed weapons, liquors, gambling paraphernalia, videoke and also refrain from creating boisterous noise.
Furthermore, he called on those going to the cemetery to properly dispose their trash to avoid penalties.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo T. Eleazar earlier announced that around 3,409 policemen will be deployed to secure cemeteries in Metro Manila before and during the observance of All Saints’ and Souls’ Days.
Eleazar said under the “Ligtas Undas 2018”, policemen would be assigned to their posts as early as Oct. 31 until November 2. This would double police visibility in cemeteries to ensure public safety.
In Metro Manila alone, there are around 80 cemeteries and 30 columbaria, the biggest of which is the Manila North Cemetery. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
