Police units on high alert for 'Pepito'
2024-Nov-18 13:00
SERVICE. Officers from the San Miguel Municipal Police Station in Catanduanes province assist clearing operations in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) on Sunday (Nov. 17, 2024). PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil has directed all police units to be on high alert to assist disaster response efforts in areas hit by the massive typhoon. (PNA/Catanduanes Police Provincial Office Facebook page)
MANILA – All police units have been placed on high alert and were directed to mobilize resources to assist disaster response operations amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi).
In a statement on Sunday, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said with coordination with Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMOs), some 4,894 personnel have been deployed across affected regions while 8,065 Reserve Support and Security Forces (RSSF) personnel are standby to reinforce disaster response operations.
"Our personnel are on the frontlines, ready to respond swiftly to emergencies despite the risks involved. They put themselves in harm's way to safeguard the lives and property of our people. This dedication reflects their role as protectors of the community during the most challenging situations," Marbil said.
PNP units have been strategically deployed to enforce preemptive evacuations, oversee disaster response operations, and provide critical assistance in evacuation centers.
The key deployments include 1,046 personnel in the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) monitoring urban areas, 1,912 personnel of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A (Calabarzon) safeguarding communities in the typhoon-hit Polillo Islands and 607 personnel of the PRO 2 (Cagayan Valley) assisting forced evacuations in landslide-prone Nueva Vizcaya.
Close coordination with local government units (LGUs), DRRMOs, and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been instrumental in implementing evacuation and disaster response protocols.
In Central Luzon, a red alert status remains in effect, with coastal and high-risk areas undergoing preemptive evacuations.
Meanwhile, relief operations are ongoing in Eastern Visayas and continuous monitoring is in effect in Cordillera to ensure the safety of those living in landslide-prone areas.
The PNP chief also urged the public to remain vigilant, heed evacuation orders, and report emergencies to the nearest police unit. (PNA)