BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The regional command of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13), supported by the Army’s 402nd and 403rd Infantry Brigades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has now formulated and finalized security plan, dubbed as “Oplan Task Force Kaluluwa,” to be implemented on All Saints' and Souls' Days in the 6 cities and 5 provinces in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region).

Supt. Martin M. Gamba, regional PRO 13 spokesman and Maj. Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, regional Army spokesman of 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division said their respective command is set to deploy big number of policemen and Army soldier to help secure all private and public cemeteries the biggest of which are the public cemeteries located in the different cities of Butuan, Bislig, Surigao, Bayugan, Cabadbaran and Tandag.

Police contingents, supported by Army troops are also set to be deployed in strategic areas, particularly in the main thoroughfares and national highways towards cemeteries to control traffic jams.

Supt. Gamba said bringing of liquor and other intoxicating drinks, firearms, bladed weapons and sound systems are prohibited inside the cemeteries to ensure the solemnity of the All Saints' and All Souls' Days observance.

Aside from military support, Supt. Gamba also said the police contingent will be reinforced by special forces, regional, provincial and city mobile forces.

“We will have our final coordinating conference before weekend,” added the PRO 13 spokesman.

He further added that the regional command of PRO 13 ordered all city and provincial police directors and municipal chiefs of police to tap the assistance of the Barangay Tanods and Barangay Intelligence net to serve as security force multipliers.

Meanwhile, the PRO 13 regional command also disclosed that the implementation of “Oplan Task Force Kaluluwa” will not affect the security measures implemented in Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly in Basilan to prevent spill over of violence in other parts of Mindanao.

He disclosed they have separate forces manning the checkpoints and guarding the entry and exits points of this region to prevent the entry of rebels.

Chief Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, regional director of PRO 13 already ordered the deployment of more police forces in the streets, airports, seaports and terminals to watch over the influx of commuters visiting their dead love ones in public and private cemeteries all over the region.

Rafal said the deployment of all PNP personnel to places of convergence of civilians will ensure a much safer and an orderly day deterring criminal elements from victimizing commuters.