20,000 security forces deployed for Undas

PALO, Leyte — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) said almost 20,000 police personnel, force multipliers and partner-agency members will be deployed across Eastern Visayas to provide security during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

PRO-8 Regional director Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said a total of 19,972 security personnel from various units of the Philippine National Police and partner agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection, had been deployed.

The security contingent also includes force multipliers such as Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, local government units and traffic enforcement teams to help maintain peace and order.

Cardiño said the personnel would be deployed to 326 public and private cemeteries and 11 memorial parks across the region. The deployment began on 31 October and will continue until 3 November.

He also placed the entire PRO-8 under full alert status from 30 October to 3 November to ensure operational readiness throughout the holiday observance.

Of the total security contingent, 5,827 are PNP personnel from PRO-8. These include 385 personnel from the Regional Headquarters, 1,185 from the Leyte Police Provincial Office, 678 from the Southern Leyte PPO, 338 from the Biliran PPO, 634 from the Samar PPO, 697 from the Eastern Samar PPO, 833 from the Northern Samar PPO, 499 from the Ormoc City Police Office and 578 from the Tacloban City Police Office.

Cardiño said 343 Police Assistance Desks had been established across the region, with 2,165 personnel assigned to provide assistance and ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, 409 personnel were assigned to places of worship, 549 to major thoroughfares, 309 to transportation hubs and 265 to tourist destinations. An additional 697 personnel were deployed for mobile patrols and 1,433 for checkpoint operations.

Partner agencies, including the AFP, PCG and BFP, deployed 2,193 personnel, while 11,952 force multipliers came from BPATs, local government units and traffic enforcement teams.