No major untoward incident on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day — PNP

No major untoward incident was reported on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

"The PNP finds Christmas Eve and today to be generally peaceful and orderly with no major untoward incident reported," the PNP said in a statement.

The PNP also assured the public that it "maintains a high state of readiness to respond to possible enemy hostile actions"  as it continues to observe the suspension of offensive police operations (SOPO).

PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Monday declared a SOPO against the communist rebels in the country, effective from December 23, 2019 to January 7, 2020.

"Likewise, we continue to provide rescue and relief assistance to LGUs and locals affected by typhoon Ursula even as we remain alert and vigilant to prevent occurrence of crimes to ensure [the] security of the public this holiday season," it added.

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Typhoon Ursula was estimated at 70 kilometers southeast of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

It is expected to make its sixth landfall in the coming hours.

As of 12 p.m., the Provincial Risk Reduction Management Office said that 13,975 passengers were stranded in ports.

Meanwhile, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said on Wednesday afternoon one person died in Abuyog, Leyte. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA News