DAVAO CITY (November 3) — The peaceful observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Davao City was the result of a collective effort that brought together police personnel, government agencies, community volunteers, and thousands of residents in a shared commitment to public safety.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO), under the leadership of Police Colonel Peter Madria, recorded zero incidents during its UNDAS 2026 security operations, allowing 174,807 cemetery-goers to visit their departed loved ones safely.
But beyond the numbers, the incident-free observance showed a more important message: maintaining peace and order is not the police’s responsibility alone. It requires the cooperation and active participation of the entire community.
A total of 556 Philippine National Police personnel were deployed, alongside 136 personnel from augmented units, including Task Force Davao (TFD), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Adding strength to the security effort were 1,232 members of advocacy groups who worked alongside authorities in supporting public safety measures across the city’s cemeteries.
Photo Courtesy: DCPO
Through close coordination with local government units, partner agencies, and the city’s safety and security cluster, the DCPO implemented security measures, increased police visibility, and managed crowd movement to ensure an orderly and peaceful observance.
The combined presence of uniformed personnel and community volunteers demonstrated how collaboration on the ground can help create safer public spaces, particularly during occasions that bring thousands of people together.
Madria recognized the commitment of participating personnel, partner agencies, advocacy groups, and the public, emphasizing that the successful operation resulted from operational readiness, inter-agency cooperation, and strong community partnership.
The peaceful UNDAS observance reminded everyone that public safety is strongest when institutions and communities work together.
In Davao City, zero incidents were not simply an operational accomplishment. It was a shared achievement made possible by people working together to ensure that families could remember their departed loved ones without fear or disruption.-Editha Z Caduaya
