MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday commended all PNP commanders and personnel responsible for the peaceful observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
“I would like to congratulate the Regional Directors, and Directors of National Support Units for the success of this security operation. I also extend the gratitude of the PNP to all Local Government Units, national government agencies, the administrators of public cemeteries and memorial parks; and our partner NGOs, civilian volunteers, force multipliers, and to each and every individual private citizen for their cooperation and support in ensuring peaceful and orderly Undas 2018,” Albayalde said in a press briefing after the Monday’s flag ceremony.
“This well-coordinated operation in Undas 2018 serves as our dry run for a larger security operation for the coming Yuletide season. Under the same “whole-of-government” law enforcement and public safety framework, we are setting our sights ahead of the Yuletide season and making early preparations to maximize efficiency of planned actions,” the PNP chief said.
He said that no untoward incident was recorded by the PNP during the four-day “Undas” holidays.
Albayalde said that a total of 4,435 assistance hubs were established all over the country manned by 22,967 PNP personnel tasked to ensure the peaceful and orderly observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
Likewise, 6,724 road safety marshals were deployed in major thoroughfares and roads nationwide to assist the motorists.
He added that the overall security operations resulted in the confiscation of four firearms, 28,595 bladed weapons, alcoholic drinks, 615 gambling paraphernalia, 195 Karaoke from 17,659 violators.
“During the four-day Undas, we have also conducted 616 anti-illegal operations which led to the arrest of 981 drug suspects, 21 died in police operations, while two were wounded. Our campaign against wanted persons also netted 525 suspects,” he said.
During the period, 52 robbery incidents were recorded and 28 of these incidents took place in residential areas, 23 in commercial areas and one in a public place while there were three vehicular incidents, which claimed the lives of two and injuries to 12 others.
He said the just concluded four-day Undas break was generally peaceful throughout the country with no major untoward incident reported even as some more travelers are now returning to the urban centers from the long weekend.
“As we speak, PNP units continue to man their posts in police assistance centers established along travel routes, as well as in land, sea, and air transportation terminals,” he noted.
Albayalde said the full alert status across the country will stay until all workers and students have returned to Metro Manila and other urban areas starting Sunday.
“The instruction is for our personnel to remain on their posts until Monday, when the last wave of the huge number of people goes back to their schools and workplaces,” he said.
Policemen were augmented by barangay security officers, volunteers, and personnel from other government agencies numbering to almost 90,000. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
