ILOILO City – As thousands of Ilonggos troop to cemeteries for the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) reiterated its call for the public to strictly follow local regulations and avoid bringing prohibited items such as firearms, bladed weapons, alcoholic beverages, loud sound systems, and gambling paraphernalia.
PRO-6 director Brigadier General Josefino Ligan said 4,706 police personnel have been deployed across Western Visayas to ensure “the safe, orderly, and peaceful observance” of Pista Minatay this November 1 and 2.
“We encourage everyone to follow local regulations, avoid bringing prohibited items such as firearms, bladed weapons, alcoholic beverages, loud sound systems, and gambling paraphernalia, and to observe proper waste disposal while visiting their departed loved ones,” Ligan said.
The deployment of police personnel started on October 29 and the heightened alert will run up to November 3.
Ligan assured that police units across the region are “fully prepared to secure and assist everyone” during the long weekend. Police assistance desks have been set up in cemeteries, transport terminals, and other public convergence areas, while checkpoints and traffic management measures have been intensified in coordination with local government units.
On October 31, Ligan personally inspected police security preparations in seaports, land transport terminals and cemeteries.
“In our security coverage, we closely coordinate and collaborate with local government units, other law enforcement agencies, and force multipliers,” said Ligan.
In Iloilo Province, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) under Colonel Bayani Razalan has deployed around 800 personnel for crowd control, traffic management, and security operations from October 29 to November 3.
“We are appealing for public cooperation so that we can all have a safe and peaceful observance of Pista Minatay 2025,” said IPPO spokesperson Police Major Rolando Araño.
In Iloilo City, Police Colonel Kim Legada said the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) placed all its units on full alert and assigned more than 1,100 uniformed personnel in cemeteries, with deployment tailored to the size and layout of each site.
“The deployment depends on how big the area is and the locations of their ingress and egress because we want to consider their entrances and exits of cemeteries,” he explained.
The ICPO also set up police assistance desks in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Red Cross, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Authorities reminded the public to comply with Executive Order No. 108, which bans alcoholic beverages, poisonous or combustible materials, unregistered drones, unlicensed firearms, gambling, large sound systems, overnight stays, and littering inside cemeteries.
Iloilo City’s Public Order and Safety Management Office and Traffic Management Office likewise deployed over 380 personnel to enforce road closures and maintain traffic flow around major cemeteries such as Cuartero, Molo, Arevalo, Forest Lake, Christ the King, and Green Garden.
With police visibility heightened in highways, ports, malls, and other convergence areas, PRO-6 urged the public to cooperate and keep the observance solemn, orderly, and incident-free.
“For emergencies, the public may dial 911 or contact the nearest police station for immediate assistance,” the regional office said./PN
The Police Regional Office 6 reminded the public to follow local regulations and avoid bringing prohibited items while visiting cemeteries. Photo shows a boy sprucing up a tomb of a departed loved one at a public cemetery in Oton, Iloilo on October 29, ahead of the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days. AJ PALCULLO/PN
