PNP on full alert due to Taal Volcano eruption

January 13, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised full alert due to Taal Volcano eruption.

In an interview over DZMM, PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the police is on full alert and coordinating in affected areas to assist in evacuating residents. 

"My instructions to the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) and Region Three office are to keep all available trucks so we can deploy them anytime." said Gamboa. 

"We will just take cue from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to provide what they will need," he added. 

Gamboa added that upon request from NDRRMC Director General Ricardo Jalad, he ordered to deploy seven trucks in areas surrounding Taal Volcano. The trucks can bear 50 to 80 persons, according to Gamboa. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded continuous volcanic earthquakes and release of steam from the volcano's crater at 11 am on Sunday. 

Alert level four was raised in the evening which indicated that "hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days." Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS