Undas 2018 peaceful overall — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday that the observance of UNDAS 2018 was generally peaceful nationwide.

Only a few minor incidents were recorded, Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesperson, said.

According to the PNP, among the 1,159 items confiscated in cemetery inspections were firearms and ammunition, bladed or pointed weapons, alcoholic drinks, and illegal drugs.

At the Manila North Cemetery, the crowd volume at Manila North Cemetery reached 1.2 million on Thursday afternoon.

A young man was caught while attempting to sneak in two sachets of suspected marijuana inside the Manila North Cemetery, where over a million visitors paid respects to the dead.

Police officers also called the attention of some visitors who were caught gambling and making noise through their karaoke.

Some children got lost in the midst of the busy crowd. Seven kids were brought to the administrative office of the Manila North Cemetery, who were later reunited with their families.

Meanwhile, at the Manila South Cemetery, which gathered around 300,000 visitors, a sudden spark in a power line caused a minor commotion. No one was injured in the incident.

Some visitors in the cemetery were given first aid after experiencing dizziness due to crowd congestion.

Tension was also reported in front of Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina after a verbal confrontation between an armed man, and local government officials and police officers.

The man reportedly ran amok because the parked vehicle of the local officials was allegedly blocking his house.

As part of the government's preparation for this year's Undas, 3,000 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel were deployed and 30,000 police officers were tasked to monitor the security nationwide.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) also conducted inspections at various bus terminals to ensure that the Undas exodus would be safe. — LDF/MDM, GMA News