The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) will be deploying over 2,000 policemen across Western Visayas to ensure that no one could enter cemeteries from October 29 to November 2 during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 has released guidelines to close all cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 in a bid to curb the risk of COVID-19 transmission while celebrating the activities.

The public is only allowed to visit cemeteries to a maximum of 30 percent of the capacity at any given time from October 15 until October 28 and November 3 to 15.

PRO-6 spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel  Arnel Solis, said more than 2,000 cops are now ready to be deployed and they will render 24-hour duty in cemeteries.

“Our personnel are all set to provide and ensure public safety and security to maintain peace and order during the observance of the said occasions. We will be in close coordination with the different local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders. The deployed police personnel together with the force multipliers will be present to secure the visiting public in the cemeteries,” Solis said.

He said that their security coverage include the enforcement of the prohibited acts/practices in cemeteries like bringing of firearms, bladed weapons, drinking of alcohol, gambling, loud music, and other activities/items specified by the respective local ordinances related to the observance of these occasions.

“We have personnel roaming around inside the cemeteries and those who will be caught violating, they will be arrested and could face criminal cases,” Solis said.

The PRO-6 will likewise intensify police presence in crowded and frequented areas like malls, transport terminals, churches, resorts, and other strategic areas during Undas. (Ruby Silubrico)/WDJ