Police commanders nationwide were ordered Saturday to start implementing security measures for the forthcoming traditional observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, with officials saying they will heighten the alert status in order to maximize the deployment of cops in public cemeteries and memorial parks across the country.

Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief, Philippine National Police (PNP), said that they are particularly concerned not only with the safety of the people who are expected to troop to the provinces but also the security from criminal elements and terrorist groups.

“We have already alerted all our units nationwide, police commanders were also directed to undertake special security measures during the long weekend holiday,” said Verzosa.

“The entire PNP will be placed on nationwide heightened alert to ensure the availability of police units and personnel to perform police duties and respond to contingencies,” he added.

The planned security measures that will be implemented was already embodied in the Letter of Instruction which the PNP leadership sent to police commanders, among them are the guidelines on security coverage, public safety measures, contingency plans, and other support services to be provided by the PNP during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Police Regional Offices and the Traffic Management Group in the Luzon area were directed to establish Public Assistance Centers along highways and main thoroughfares leading to the provinces in the North and South in anticipation of the heavy volume of vehicle and commuter traffic to and from Metro Manila.

In Metro Manila, police districts were instructed to provide security and insure order in land transportation terminals.

The Maritime Group and Aviation Security Group, on the other hand, were tasked to implement special security measures in seaports and airports, respectively.

At the same time, all police regional offices were alerted against possible hostile actions by the domestic threat groups on vital installations such as power generation telecommunication facilities, and critical infrastructure.

Police units in urban centers were also directed to maintain police visibility in congested areas and convergence points to deter criminal and terrorist elements from taking advantage of the situation.

These include preventive patrol and police visibility operations in residential areas, in coordination with local governments as a deterrent against thieves and robbers that prey on unattended residences.

Residents in the urban centers are advised, if possible, not to leave their homes unattended, and to coordinate with barangay and neighborhood authorities to provide security to unattended residences.