ILOILO City — The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) have gone on full alert for All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2), deploying more than 1,300 police personnel and force multipliers across the province and the city to guarantee peace, order, and public safety during the annual observance of Pista Minatay.
Police Major Rolando Araño, spokesperson of IPPO, said the police force under Colonel Bayani Razalan is “100 percent ready” for the long weekend observance.
“We are appealing for public cooperation so that we can all have a safe and peaceful observance of Pista Minatay 2025,” Araño said, reminding residents to unplug appliances, extinguish candles, and secure their homes before leaving.
Around 800 IPPO personnel will be on duty from October 29 to November 3, focusing on crowd control and traffic management in cemeteries and transport terminals where early visitors have begun arriving to clean graves and offer flowers.
In Iloilo City, Police Director Colonel Kim Legada ordered the deployment of 546 police officers and 175 force multipliers from October 31 to November 2.
Police Assistance Desks will be set up in cemeteries, terminals, and major public areas to respond swiftly to emergencies and provide crowd control.
ICPO spokesperson Shella Mae Sangrines said close coordination has been made with the Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office (TMRO), barangay officials, and volunteer groups to ensure smooth vehicular flow and public order.
“We are all set to ensure the safety, security, and assistance of everyone observing Undas 2025,” she said.
Authorities also reminded the public that firearms, bladed weapons, gambling paraphernalia, liquor, and loud sound systems are strictly prohibited inside cemeteries. Police visibility will be maintained round-the-clock in highways, ports, malls, and other convergence areas to keep the observance solemn and incident-free./PN
