By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it has established 5,293 police assistance desks (PADs) and will be deploying 25,349 police personnel in all public cemeteries, memorial parks and columbaria around the country.
At a press briefing held at Camp Crame, PNP Information Chief and Spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño said joining the police officers to secure the annual observance of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) will be 8,265 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and 22,399 force multipliers, bringing the total number of deployed personnel to 56,013.
“Usually nagiging full alert kaugnay ng Undas at holiday season, one day before D-Day,” he said.
A full alert is the highest level of readiness in all police officers and units, under which police personnel are not allowed to go on leave.
He said the deployment of PNP personnel will augment preventive patrol operations and anti-criminality and anti-drug campaigns, while the PADs are meant to guide commuters and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the crowd.
Police assistance centers will also be established inside and outside cemeteries and memorial parks to keep peace and order and to remind the public to ensure that minimum public health standards are observed.
He also said the PNP will remain on alert, especially in transport terminals, airports and piers, as commuters return from the provinces for the observance of Undas.
Meanwhile, items that are prohibited inside the cemeteries during the commemoration of Undas are guns and all types of sharp objects such as knives, cutters and spatulas; all types of intoxicating beverages; guitars, loud sound systems and speakers; and flammable items such as alcohol and thinner.
Pets such as dogs and cats are, likewise, not allowed inside the cemetery. (PNA)
