About 800 police personnel to secure cemeteries, public places in Agusan Sur for All Souls’ Day
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — Around 800 police personnel will be deployed to 30 public cemeteries, memorial parks, and other public places across Agusan del Sur to ensure public safety and maintain peace and order during the observance of All Souls’ Day on November 2, 2026.
The deployment will involve personnel from the City and Municipal Police Stations (C/MPS), Philippine National Police (PNP) mobile forces, and the Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (ADSPPO), in coordination with the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs), which will serve as force multipliers.
Police Colonel Romeo A. Villalobos Jr., provincial director of the ADSPPO, assured the public that police forces across the province would be placed on full alert to ensure the safety of cemetery visitors, including those returning from outside the province to visit their departed loved ones.
“We are on full alert status. We expect many visitors coming to the province. We are not only looking after those who are already here but also families and relatives coming from different places,” Villalobos said.
To provide immediate assistance, police assistance desks and first aid stations will be set u pin cemeteries and memorial parks. PNP mobile forces and quick reaction teams will also be deployed to respond promptly to emergencies and other security concerns.
“The purpose is to assist all visitors. If they encounter problems while visiting the cemetery, our police personnel will be there to help. You will also see hotline numbers posted for faster communication,” Villalobos said.
Aside from cemeteries and memorial parks, police personnel will also conduct monitoring and patrol operations in churches, bus stops and terminals, and along national highways to help ensure the safety of travelers and the general public.
PNP reminds public to observe Ligtas Undas safety tips
As part of the PNP’s Ligtas Undas campaign, Villalobos urged the public to take precautionary measures before leaving their homes and while visiting cemeteries to prevent accidents, theft, and other untoward incidents.
“This All Souls’ Day, we have Ligtas Undas. As we know, petty crimes may occur during this occasion because many people leave their homes to visit cemeteries,” Villalobos said.
Before leaving home, the public is advised to plan their cemetery visits, ensure all doors and windows are securely locked, extinguish candles and other open flames, unplug unnecessary electrical appliances, turn off gas stoves, and close water sources to prevent accidents and damage.
Residents are also encouraged to secure their valuables, avoid leaving notes or public announcements indicating that their homes are unoccupied, and ask trusted neighbors to keep an eye on their properties while they are away.
Meanwhile, cemetery visitors are advised to bring umbrellas or other protection against heat and rain, as well as sufficient food and drinking water. They should also ensure that candles are placed in safe areas and properly monitored to prevent fire.
Parents and guardians are reminded to keep children close at all times and provide them with identification or contact information in case they become separated from their families.
The public is also urged to observe cemetery rules and regulations, including restrictions on prohibited items, gambling, the use of loudspeakers where prohibited, and the sale of alcoholic beverages where these are not allowed.
Visitors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the locations of police assistance desks and first aid stations to ensure they can quickly seek help when needed.
Through the Ligtas Undas campaign and the deployment of personnel across the province, the ADSPPO aims to maintain peace and order and provide a safe and orderly environment for families paying tribute to their departed loved ones.
The public is encouraged to cooperate with authorities, remain vigilant, and immediately report suspicious activities or emergencies to the nearest police personnel or through official police hotlines. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur with a report from PTV Agusan del Sur)
