Fifty-six people drowned or died from road accidents and violence during the Holy Week break, the Philippine National Police said Monday.
Forty-five of the fatalities drowned, eight died in vehicular accidents, one was stabbed dead, one was shot dead and another was electrocuted, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said in a statement.
Another 128 people were injured in 88 separate accidents, he said.
The incidents highlight the need for enhancing road safety awareness, reviewing road engineering features and including swimming skills as part of the physical education curriculum in schools, Albayalde said.
But Albayalde said the Holy Week was “generally peaceful without any significant untoward incident in the magnitude of a national emergency” despite the fatalities.
Some 24,700 police officers were deployed to the main thoroughfares, transport terminals and other strategic locations during Holy Week, Albayalde said.