“With these steady hands on the wheel, our Undas will be a truly safe and meaningful observance for all.”
AS MILLIONS prepare for the solemn journey back to our provinces and cemeteries to honor our departed loved ones this Undas 2025, it’s comforting to know that our safety is the top priority of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Reading about the nationwide full alert status under Oplan Ligtas Undas 2025, I feel a genuine sense of gratitude and confidence. This is more than just a security operation; it’s a profound assurance that we can observe this deeply rooted Filipino tradition with both peace and dignity.
The Calm Command of Leadership
The directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure public security is being carried out with notable discipline, led by Acting Chief PNP, Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.
What truly stands out to me is his emphasis on composure and unity. It’s easy for a massive deployment involving thousands of officers in crowded cemeteries, transport hubs, and major highways to descend into chaos, but the focus here is clearly on an orderly, coordinated effort.
Nartatez’s steady approach—personally inspecting deployment points—reminds us that effective leadership isn’t about making the loudest noise; it’s about clarity, discipline, and ensuring the plan works on the ground. His goal, as he stated, is simple but essential: to make our journey “safe and comfortable.”
That phrase speaks volumes. It acknowledges that traveling for Undas is already emotionally significant and sometimes physically taxing, and the PNP’s role is to minimize the stress of security and logistics.
More Than Enforcement: A Partnership for Safety
The deployment of officers across the country isn’t just about catching criminals; it’s about visible police presence and assistance. The instructions for personnel to maintain close coordination with local government units and barangay officials highlight a comprehensive, whole-of-community approach.
I appreciated the practical reminders from Nartatez—to lock doors, unplug appliances, and inform trusted neighbors—because it acknowledges that while the police are securing public spaces, we must also play our part in securing our private homes.
The success of any major security operation, as PNP Spokesperson PBGEN Randulf T. Tuaño rightly pointed out, ultimately rests on community discipline and vigilance.
The reassurance that assistance desks, patrol units, and first-aid stations are fully manned, and that help is just a 911 call away, is a powerful antidote to any anxiety about traveling in crowded conditions.
Our Role in a Peaceful Undas
This Undas is a time for remembrance and respect. The PNP has set a clear tone: one of calmness, cooperation, and respect for one another. As we travel, let us match the PNP’s dedication with our own patience, courtesy, and vigilance. Let’s remember that the officers we see on the road or in the cemetery are there to keep us safe, sacrificing their own holiday with family.
This year’s operation, guided by the quiet dedication and disciplined leadership of Lt. Gen. Nartatez, is a reflection of a police service that understands its mandate goes beyond just law enforcement—it is about enabling a cherished national tradition to proceed peacefully and safely.
I am confident that with these steady hands on the wheel, our Undas will be a truly safe and meaningful observance for all.
(The writer, a doctorate degree holder, serves as Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, through which he continues to advance the causes of sovereignty, reform, and the dignity of the Filipino people.)
