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Over 111,000 policemen will be deployed to enforce security across the country for the observance of All Saints' Day and All Soul's Day on November 1 to 2, more than doubling the manpower compared to last year.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) will beef up security in cemeteries and other areas of convergence.
"The PNP will be deploying 111,582 [police personnel] in 5,628 cemeteries and columbaria," Police Colonel Amante Daro, PNP acting executive officer-Directorate for Operations, said during a DILG forum on Wednesday.
The DILG statement said, "This year's deployment is higher than the police mobilization of over 50,000 cops in last year's Undas."
Of the deployed cops, 11,782 will be personnel from other units. Meanwhile, 31,814 will be force multipliers, including Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, PNP advocacy support groups, and local government unit employees who will assist in traffic management.
Aside from cemeteries, there will also be cops stationed at bus terminals and other transportation hubs amid the expected exodus of travelers. Cops will be visible in malls and resorts, the DILG added.
There will also be police patrols in residential communities, the department said.
"May pupunta ng probinsya, iiwanan ang kanilang mga bahay. Minsan buong pamilya wala, so walang tao. Sisiguraduhin ng inyong kapulisan na papatrolyahan 'yon, to make sure na 'di sila mapapasok ng masamang loob, at hindi manakawan ang kanilang tahanan," said Daro.
(Some will go to the province and leave their homes unattended. Sometimes the whole family is away, so no one is left behind. Your police force will ensure that those areas are patrolled to make sure bad elements don't enter and steal from their homes.)
Millions of Filipinos are expected to flock to their home towns and provinces during the annual commemoration to pay respects to their dearly departed loved ones and to reunite with their relatives as well. — VDV, GMA News