AT least 10,500 people visited Manila North Cemetery as of 12 noon on Saturday, according to the Manila Police District (MPD), as police personnel continued to ensure the safety of visitors paying respects to their deceased loved ones.
Meanwhile, the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (MCDRRMD) deployed its Emergency Medical Services team to different areas of Manila North Cemetery to provide immediate medical assistance to visitors.
Volunteers also assisted medical responders in providing services to the public.
Members of the Incident Management Team also visited the cemetery to inspect the readiness and condition of responders stationed in the area.
The MCDRRMD also deployed its Emergency Medical Services team at Manila South Cemetery to provide immediate medical assistance to visitors, with volunteers assisting the responders.
Manila City Mayor Francisco ”Isko Moreno” Domagoso earlier said the city government had completed its preparations for Undas 2026 after 10 days of coordination among various offices and agencies, including the MPD and MCDRRMD. He also said vendors would not be allowd inside cemeteries, with designated selling areas provided outside their perimeters.
Security deployment
At least 270 police officers have been deployed at the Manila North Cemetery to maintain peace and order as thousands of Filipinos visit their departed loved ones for All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.
Police Lt. Col. Jolliet Soriano, MPD Station 3 commander and ground commander of the cemetery’s security deployment, said officers have been stationed at strategic points, including gates and passageways, to manage the expected influx of visitors and ensure public safety.
The deployment is part of a wider security operation of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which deployed 12,848 personnel across Metro Manila as of 6 a.m. on Saturday, with nearly 1,000 more scheduled to reinforce security through Nov. 2.
Police Lt. Col. Hazel Asilo, NCRPO spokesman, said no untoward incidents had been monitored at cemeteries and transport terminals as of Saturday morning.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) placed all its units nationwide on full alert from Oct. 30 until Nov. 3, mobilizing about 141,000 police personnel and augmentation forces to secure cemeteries, transportation hubs and other areas expected to draw large crowds.
In Metro Manila, about 25,000 personnel are available for Undas security operations, with around 7,000 assigned to priority areas, including cemeteries, major roads and transport hubs, NCRPO regional director Brig. Gen. Christopher Nortez Abrahano said.
More than 3,600 police officers have also been assigned to patrol communities to deter criminal activity while residents visit cemeteries or travel to their home provinces.
Mobile patrols will cover major roads, while foot patrols, in coordination with barangay officials and other force multipliers, will monitor residential areas where houses may be left unattended.
Police are also monitoring commercial establishments and other areas to prevent crimes during the holiday period.
The security preparations at Manila North Cemetery followed an Oct. 30 inspection by PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Abrahano and MPD director Brig. Gen. Arnold Santiago, who assessed the cemetery’s readiness ahead of the observance.
More than 1,000 people had visited Manila North Cemetery as of Oct. 30, according to police figures. The NCRPO recorded about 1.8 million cemetery visitors across Metro Manila during last year’s observance.
Asilo clarified that cemetery administrators and their designated personnel are responsible for inspecting bags and screening visitors at entrances, while police provide secondary security and assistance when needed.
Police officers are also authorized to patrol inside cemeteries to prevent incidents and respond to requests for assistance.
Authorities are enforcing cemetery rules and local ordinances, including restrictions on bladed weapons and other prohibited items. Police assistance desks have been set up at transport terminals, where officers are also making public-address announcements, reminding passengers to stay vigilant.
Asilo urged cemetery visitors to safeguard their belongings against pickpockets and other thieves, particularly as crowds increase.
She also encouraged victims of theft to file formal complaints against suspects to facilitate appropriate legal action.
The NCRPO said it would continue to assess security requirements and adjust deployments based on crowd movement and other developments during the observance, including the possible return of travelers from the provinces after the holidays.
Cemetery security
The NCRPO is enforcing existing cemetery rules and local ordinances, including restrictions on bladed weapons and other prohibited items.
Asilo urged cemetery visitors to guard their belongings against pickpockets and other thieves, particularly as crowds grow during the observance.
She encouraged victims of theft to file formal complaints against suspects to ensure that appropriate legal action can be taken.
The NCRPO also advised residents to remain alert to possible criminal activity in crowded areas and to avoid leaving their mobile phones and other valuables unattended.
Asilo said police will continue to monitor the situation and adjust deployments based on security assessments and the movement of people during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day period.
