THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) is set to deploy more than 1,000 personnel to secure all cemeteries in the city during the observance of All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, widely known as “Undas.”
Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security Press briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 22, spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon announced that 1,192 personnel, comprising Davao City Police officers and police auxiliaries, will be deployed across 53 cemeteries from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, 2025.
“This number does not yet include the personnel we will deploy to ports, terminals, and tourist spots within our area of responsibility,” Tuazon added, emphasizing the comprehensive security coverage.
Tuazon stressed that the security efforts are in line with the mandate of DCPO chief Colonel Mannan Muarip to strictly monitor all areas, especially the borders, to curb illegal activities.
“For our efforts to succeed, everyone must be involved, not just our uniformed personnel, to maintain peace and order,” she stated.
Prohibitions inside cemeteries
The DCPO reminded the public about the long-standing rules and prohibitions that will be strictly implemented inside all cemeteries from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3: These include no clean-up or construction, and all cleaning, painting, and major maintenance of tombs must be completed before Oct. 30.
Prohibited Items: The DCPO is enforcing a strict ban on several items, including alcohol/liquor, videoke machines, gambling paraphernalia, and smoking.
She also said that firearms, bladed weapons, and drones without proper permits are strictly prohibited.
Confiscated Items and pet policy
“If we confiscate any prohibited items upon entry, we will simply hold them, and you can retrieve them upon leaving the cemetery. We want to be clear: we will not bring these confiscated items to the police station; they will be turned over to the security personnel at the gate and retrieved when you exit the cemetery,” she explained.
Finally, Tuazon said that she would seek clarification from the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) regarding the official policy for public cemeteries, noting that private cemeteries typically maintain their own rules.
