More than 4,000 Western Visayas cops deployed for Undas

By Jennifer P. Rendon

More than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed across Western Visayas for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively.

Brigadier General Josefino Ligan, Western Visayas police chief, said security preparations were mapped out weeks in advance and are now being implemented by subordinate and national support units.

Given its wide area of responsibility, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) will deploy the highest number of personnel, with 1,228 officers assigned.

Capiz PPO will send 586 police officers, followed by Aklan PPO with 585, Antique PPO with 521, Guimaras PPO with 141, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 6 with 282.

Among the national support units, the Aviation Security Unit (AVSEU) 6 will deploy 319 personnel, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 6 with 46, Regional Maritime Unit (RMU) 6 with 44, Regional Highway Patrol Unit (RHPU) 6 with 33, and the Regional Civil Security Unit with one.

The total of 4,278 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will be deployed in key areas such as cemeteries, transport terminals, seaports, and other public convergence points.

They will be supported by thousands of force multipliers, including barangay tanod, traffic auxiliaries, and medical volunteers.

As in previous years, Ligan said Police Assistance Desks (PADs) will be set up in high-traffic areas to ensure the safety and security of the public.

Meanwhile, Major Lailyn Sencil, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), said drones will be used to monitor and provide aerial zoning coverage across hundreds of cemeteries.

Sencil also assured that PRO-6 has enough personnel stationed in strategic areas to meet the region’s security demands.

She reminded the public to avoid bringing liquor, unlicensed firearms, and deadly weapons into cemeteries during the Undas observance.