PNP activates Oplan Kaluluwa for All Saints weekend

MANILA, Philippines — All systems are set in maintaining peace and order inside and outside cemeteries nationwide in the next days as the Philippine National Police (PNP) anticipates an influx of visitors in memorial parks that would be closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 to prevent large crowds on All Saints’ Day.

All private and public cemeteries, memorial parks and columbariums were ordered closed during, before and after Nov.1, an annual occasion that has traditionally seen thousands of Filipinos visiting their departed loved ones, to prevent overcrowding and stop the spread of the coronavirus.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said yesterday that the police’s Oplan Kaluluwa, traditionally activated during All Saints’ Day or Undas, would also be implemented this year amid the easing of quarantine restrictions to secure cemeteries and enforce health protocols.

Cascolan said police officers would be setting up assistance desks along highways and daily patrols would be conducted in areas prone to crime.

He said barangay officials and peacekeeping teams would also be asked to conduct patrols to augment the police force.

“All regional directors and police directors will be inspecting and monitoring all activities. Daily activities starting today shall be consolidated to the PNP command center and directors of operations,” Cascolan said.

He added that unusual incidents, especially terrorism, would be immediately reported.

From Sept. 17 to Nov. 15, excluding the days covered by the closure, cemeteries will be open but only with a limited capacity of 30 percent.

Local government units earlier enacted their own policies to allow constituents to visit cemeteries on days not covered by the cemetery closures, but with health and safety protocols to be strictly implemented.