THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) will deploy its full force across more than 40 cemeteries and key infrastructure hubs to ensure public safety during the observance of Undas 2026.
Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, DCPO spokesperson PLTCOL Ma. Teresita Gaspan said the command will implement a 90:10 deployment ratio.
Under this formula, 90% of police personnel will be deployed on field operations, while 10% will handle administrative tasks at police stations.
Gaspan emphasized that security personnel will be stationed not only in public and private burial grounds but also at vital transport hubs across the city.
“Our policemen will be on full force during Undas 2026,” Gaspan said. “We have security deployments across all vital installations, including seaports, airports, and transport terminals.”
Police and auxiliary forces will man entry checkpoints in cemeteries to strictly enforce public safety rules. Prohibited items inside cemetery grounds include bladed weapons, firearms, and non-transparent water containers or tumblers.
“If an item is banned, it is strictly prohibited,” Gaspan said, adding that officers will require visitors to use transparent tumblers.
Security officers will exercise slight leniency regarding matches and lighters, acknowledging that visitors need them to light candles. However, cigarettes will be confiscated strictly in line with the city’s anti-smoking ordinance and guidelines from the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO).
Cemetery operating hours typically run until 8 p.m. At 9 p.m., police officers will remain deployed overnight at designated sites.
“We will leave personnel at certain cemeteries, especially during nighttime,” Gaspan added. “Generally, once operating hours pass, no visitors will be allowed inside. If adjustments are needed, we will fine-tune our setup.”
