Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered immediate facility inspections and personnel accounting across southern Mindanao on Thursday, following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake off Sarangani.

Nartatez directed regional, provincial and municipal police commands to inspect police stations for structural damage and ensure all personnel are accounted for.

He also ordered the deployment of officers to assist local government units and the Office of Civil Defense with damage assessments and relief efforts.

“Initial reports indicate that our stations remain operational, but we will continue validating the situation to ensure uninterrupted police services,” Nartatez said, noting the action aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“Our personnel will assist local government units and disaster response agencies in damage assessment, public safety and emergency response,” Nartatez added.

The earthquake struck at 12:13 p.m. on 5 August, centered 29 kilometers southwest of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, at a depth of 13 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The tremor registered Intensity V in Glan, Sarangani, with Intensity IV shaking reported across parts of Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos City.

In a separate event, the municipal government of Libagon, Southern Leyte, suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools on Thursday to conduct structural safety inspections following a magnitude 4.4 earthquake that hit the area Wednesday afternoon.

Libagon Mayor Oliver Ranque issued Executive Order 42 ordering the Municipal Engineering Office and local disaster response teams to evaluate school buildings before students and staff return. Classes are scheduled to resume Friday, pending safety clearances.