‘Undas’ observance generally peaceful—police

MANILA, Philippines—The nationwide observance of “undas,” or All Saints’ Day, was “generally peaceful,” despite several incidents that resulted in three fatalities, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said.

Cruz said the PNP has monitored six vehicular accidents, one fire incident, one robbery and one drowning incident that claimed the lives of two persons in Pangasinan. He said a person was killed in a road accident in La Union.

Cruz assured the safety of cemetery-goers as well as commuters as he said that policemen have been tasked to man checkpoints as well as go on foot and mobile patrol.

Aside from the police, the PNP spokesman said that there were 16 nongovernment organizations and civic groups that served as force multipliers.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan Purisima said that in their areas of responsibility alone, they had about 5,000 law enforcers deployed since the weekend to ensure the public’s safety while they pay their respects to their departed relatives.

While lawmen focused on security measures in cemeteries during All Saints’ Day, Cruz said that by the end of undas, policemen will be tasked to ensure the safety of the public as employees and students head back to their work and school, respectively, after the four-day holiday.