Undas 2026: 7,200 cops on full alert in Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — To secure the hundreds of thousands expected to pour into congested graveyards and sprawling memorial parks this week, Northern Mindanao’s police force will deploy over 7,200 officers and volunteers starting Saturday, October 31.

The Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) will go on full alert for the traditional observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, blanketing the region with a mix of regular officers and community peacekeepers to secure the public until November 2.

The region-wide deployment consists of 4,044 regular police officers, 1,059 personnel from allied law enforcement units, and 2,103 force multipliers, including barangay peacekeepers and local traffic enforcers.

READ: Undas 2026: PNP on full alert starting Oct. 30

Heavy security was expected for deployment to Cagayan de Oro City’s 19.8-hectare Bolonsiri Public Cemetery in Barangay Camaman-an.

Recently redeveloped into the City Memorial Park, the site remains the city’s largest. It holds an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 remains, thousands of which were recently exhumed and transferred to a centralized ossuary.

Five private memorial parks are expected to have a massive influx of visitors, as they collectively house an estimated 35,000 graves.

The city’s older public cemeteries also reflect decades of severe congestion, requiring tighter crowd control from authorities.

The Bulua Public Cemetery squeezes more than 10,000 graves into a three-hectare property, while the Carmen Public Cemetery holds roughly 5,000 interments within a compact two-hectare footprint.

With these dense crowds in mind, PRO-10 director Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. directed his unit commanders to ensure that their heavy street presence translates into actual crime prevention rather than a static display of force.

“Our goal is to ensure that people can observe Undas safely and peacefully. We are positioning our personnel where they are most needed to prevent criminal activities, assist the public, and respond immediately to any security concerns,” Babagay said in a Viber message Tuesday.

Police assistance desks will be set up at the entrances of these major cemeteries to help manage the influx of visitors.

READ: Flower prices expected to increase as Undas nears

Babagay said patrols will also keep a close watch on residential neighborhoods to deter burglaries while families are out visiting their departed loved ones./coa