Zamboanga City marks pre-Holy Week with graduation, tighter security measures

In yet another show of Filipinos' ability to bounce back from great loss, pupils from a Zamboanga City school affected by a failed siege by followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari got their diplomas Friday.

The Department of Education said the students were from Sta. Barbara Elementary School, one of the schools affected by the fighting seven months ago.

A photo posted on the DepEd's Twitter account Friday showed the students in graduation attire at the school's closing exercises.

Last September, Misuari's followers tried to occupy parts of the city but were repulsed after nearly a month of fighting with government troops.

Meanwhile, the Zamboanga City government adopted stricter security measures for the first Holy Week after last September's fighting.

City Mayor Isabelle "Beng" Climaco-Salazar issued Executive Orders BC-47 and BC-48 banning the sale and drinking of liquor or intoxicating drinks and rerouting traffic for the occasion.

A separate report on Zamboanga Times said the liquor ban and rerouting applied to the Mayor Cesar Climaco Freedom Park.

The report quoted the mayor as saying she wants to make sure everything is in place to ensure the residents' safety and protection during Holy Week.

Several residents are expected to flock to the Climaco Freedom Park or Abong-abong in Pasonanca, Catholic churches and other places of devotion. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News