Zamboanga city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) has successfully facilitated the return of 200 Filipinos from Sabah to their respective hometowns within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to Philippines News Agency, the returning individuals are residents of Bongao and Sitangkai municipalities in the BARMM province of Tawi-Tawi. The DSWD provided essential assistance, including transportation and financial support for food and other basic needs, ensuring the group's safe travel back to their communities.

The DSWD reported that this latest batch of repatriated Filipinos from Sabah arrived in Zamboanga City on December 20, 2025. They were temporarily accommodated at the DSWD's Processing Center for Displaced Persons (PCDP) located in Barangay Mampang.

PCDP head Abdulman Samson mentioned that a year-end celebration was organized for the returning Filipinos at the center on Thursday. The DSWD-9 highlighted that this annual event aims to help the returning individuals experience the holiday spirit, even while being away from their families.