FILE PHOTO: A cemetery in Pasay City on Monday receives visitors paying respects to their departed relatives. Public cemeteries and private memorial gardens all over the country will be closed during the traditional “Undas” (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) to avoid mass gatherings and as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has agreed to augment, when necessary, the Philippine National Police (PNP) security forces ahead of Undas or All Saints Day on November 1.
PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. announced the agreement at a press conference on Monday when he was asked about their security measures during the “ber” months or the last four months of the year when the crime rate is seen to rise as the holiday season approaches.
READ: Police to be more visible in public spaces for ‘Ber’ months
Azurin recalled his deal with AFP chief Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente during his recent visit to Hawaii.
“Sabi ko, ‘Sir, kung kukulangin kami ng mga tao na made-deploy to ensure na medyo maganda ang ating peace and security, pwede ba na magbigay kayo ng augmentation sa amin?’ And the chief of staff agreed na kung kailangan, we can request on AFP,” he narrated.
(I said, ‘Sir, if we fall short of personnel to deploy to ensure peace and security, can you provide us augmentation? And the chief of staff agreed that if we need to, we can request from the AFP.)
If the PNP does have staffing shortages, Azurin has said they want to form a buddy system with AFP officers.
Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cebu, Davao, and Baguio are the primary focus areas for PNP deployment before All Saints’ Day, he added.
“Lahat ng mga area na medyo matataas iyong convergence ng mga tao, we need to beef up our police presence and visibility,” he explained.
(We need to beef up our police presence and visibility in all areas where people are likely to converge.)