ILOILO City – Around 13,000 police personnel will secure cemeteries across Western Visayas during All Saints’ and All Souls’ days on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.
There are also augmentation forces in the provinces and cities to ensure the security of cemetery goers, said Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco.
“Our men were deployed since last week, and we sent rookie police personnel to augment our men in the police stations,” Francisco said
The PRO-6 has been on “full alert” status since Oct. 28 (and until Nov. 4). Policemen are not allowed to go on leave except for sick leave.
Around 2,496 personnel are deployed in cemeteries alone, while others are deployed to the streets to man the traffic and to the transport terminals where the influx of passengers is expected.
In addition, police assistance desks (PADS) will be placed in every cemetery in case of emergency and for assistance, and with this, the PRO-6 tapped the services of 2,140 force multipliers.
“We have enough men to man our cemeteries and traffic para sige-sige ang flow ng traffic natin. Sana walang mag-violate ng bawal at dapat they have to present ng kanilang vaccination card upon entering the cemetery,” the PRO-6 director added.
Francisco again firmly reminds the public of the prohibited objects and activities inside the cemeteries which include drinking alcohol, gambling, loud music, and firearms and deadly weapons./PN
