Duterte expects peaceful observance of “Undas”

October 27, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said he expects the observance of All Saints' and All Souls' Days to be peaceful.

In a public message aired on Tuesday morning, Duterte said all  security measures have been put in place for the November 1 and 2 events, both declared as special non-working days in the country.

"On All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day...it's already fixed. No liquor, no deadly instruments, especially gun, unless you are a military or a police," he said.

"I expect a peaceful celebration of the All Saints' Day and the All Souls' Day," Duterte added.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has ordered the temporary closure of public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria from October 29 to November 4.

The order was made to prevent mass gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Except for those days, the government said the people could go to cemeteries but the capacity in those places would only up to 30 percent. Celerina Monte/DMS