ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippinesย โ Police in the Zamboanga Peninsula have deployed more than 2,000 personnel to secure cemeteries, transport hubs, and major routes as Filipinos mark Undas 2025, officials said Thursday.
Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) Director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said the security plan covers 226 cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria across the region. The deployment includes 807 police officers, 490 other government uniformed personnel, and 877 force multipliers.
โOur personnel are fully prepared to safeguard the public and ensure that the observance of Undas remains peaceful and orderly,โ Matta said in a statement.
Authorities also set up 93 Motorist Assistance Centers along highways and convergence points, staffed by 167 police and 143 uniformed partners to assist travelers. Additional security was placed at 47 bus terminals, 29 seaports, and five airports to maintain order and ensure quick response to emergencies.
Matta said police presence would be โstrongly feltโ across the region during the holiday and urged the public to remain alert, follow safety protocols, and report suspicious activities.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the region said 27 public utility drivers and a porter tested positive for illegal drug use in surprise tests conducted ahead of the holiday rush.
PDEA-9 Director Bryan Babang said the operation, part of Oplan Harabas, tested 1,259 drivers at major transport terminals to ensure road safety during Undas. Of those who tested positive, 13 were from Zamboanga City, seven from Zamboanga del Sur, six from Zamboanga Sibugay, and one from Zamboanga del Norte.
The drivers included a van operator, a porter, and several tricycle drivers. Babang said confirmatory testing is underway before further action is taken.
He said the initiative aims to keep public utility drivers drug-free as passenger numbers are expected to surge with families traveling to visit cemeteries for the holiday.
(Photo Courtesy: PDEA RO9)
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