The Philippine National Police has mobilized more than 2,000 officers and personnel in a full-scale disaster response following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, with search and rescue operations ongoing, hundreds of families displaced, and significant transport and infrastructure disruptions reported across affected areas.
As of 1:00 PM on June 9, 2026, a total of 2,092 PNP personnel had been deployed nationwide for augmentation support, according to a statement released by the PNP Public Information Office. Operations cover evacuation center management, security of critical installations, and direct assistance to communities hit by the powerful tremor.
545 Evacuation Centers Opened to Shelter Displaced Families
Authorities have opened 545 evacuation centers across affected areas to accommodate residents displaced by the earthquake. As of the afternoon of June 9, more than 2,400 individuals and over 500 families were receiving temporary shelter and basic assistance at these facilities, the PNP said.
Police personnel have been stationed at evacuation areas to support local government units and maintain order. The PNP reported that the overall peace and order situation remains stable, with no major security incidents recorded in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Welfare and assistance measures are being extended to both displaced residents and affected PNP personnel, while structural assessments of damaged facilities remain ongoing.
Search and Rescue Teams Active Under Police Regional Office 12
Search and rescue operations are continuing in coordination with partner agencies, particularly in areas under Police Regional Office 12, which covers Central Mindanao and is among the regions most directly affected by the earthquake.
The PNP Command Center has been actively receiving and validating real-time field reports from deployed units. PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. has been personally overseeing operations at the Command Center, directing coordination with concerned government agencies and local government units as field assessments continue.
No final casualty figures were included in the initial PNP report released as of 1:00 PM on June 9, 2026, as validation of information from field units remains ongoing.
Transport Disruptions Strand Hundreds in Airports and Seaports
The earthquake has triggered significant transport disruptions across affected regions. According to the PNP, cancelled flights and suspended sea travel have left approximately 360 passengers stranded in airports and more than 470 passengers stranded in seaports as of the afternoon of June 9.
Land transport operations in affected routes have also experienced delays. One airport facility reported minor structural damage and is currently undergoing technical inspection before operations can resume.
Several roads remain passable only to light vehicles, while select bridges are under safety evaluation by concerned agencies. Authorities have not yet specified which specific airports, seaports, or road networks are affected, with updates expected as field teams complete their assessments.
Police Facilities Sustain Varying Degrees of Structural Damage
The PNP reported that several of its own facilities sustained damage in the earthquake. Four police stations and two regional headquarters buildings were affected, with varying degrees of structural damage recorded at each location.
A total of 228 uniformed personnel and 13 non-uniformed PNP staff members were affected by the earthquake. The PNP did not specify the nature of the impact on personnel — whether injuries, displacement, or both — in the initial report, stating only that appropriate welfare and assistance measures are being extended while structural assessments are underway.
The affected facilities have not been identified by name in the initial PNP report, as assessments remain in progress as of the afternoon of June 9, 2026.
PNP Chief Assures Public of Sustained Presence and Coordination
In a statement issued on June 9, 2026, PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. directly addressed the public, pledging the organization's continued commitment to rapid and organized response.
"Nandito ang PNP para sa mabilis at maayos na pagtugon. We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to ensure that help reaches our people as quickly as possible. Huwag po tayong mangamba, tuloy-tuloy ang ating monitoring at assistance operations," General Nartatez said.
The PNP said its ongoing operations are aligned with its Focused Agenda under Enhanced Managing Police Operations, a framework designed to ensure unified command, rapid deployment, and efficient inter-agency coordination during major incidents and disaster response situations.
PNP Urges Public to Rely on Official Information Channels
As rescue, relief, and assessment operations continue, the PNP has issued a public advisory urging residents — particularly those in or near affected areas — to remain calm and stay informed through official government channels.
The police organization specifically cautioned against sharing unverified reports on social media and other platforms, warning that the spread of unconfirmed information may cause confusion and hamper coordinated response efforts on the ground.
The PNP said additional updates will be released as validated information becomes available from field units actively deployed across the affected regions of Mindanao.
Response Conducted Under the Marcos Administration's National Framework
The PNP stated that its disaster response operations are being carried out in full alignment with the national government's direction under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The organization reaffirmed its institutional mandate to serve and protect the Filipino people during critical emergencies.
The police response is being guided by the organization's stated principle of "Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat at Nararamdaman" — a reform agenda that emphasizes fast, honest, and felt public service.
As of the publication of this report, the magnitude 7.8 earthquake remains one of the strongest seismic events to hit Mindanao in recent years. Further details on the full scope of casualties, infrastructure damage, and the status of ongoing rescue operations are expected to be released in subsequent official updates from the PNP and other responding agencies.
The PNP Public Information Office is the source of all figures and statements cited in this report, as issued on June 9, 2026.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office