PNP ready to deploy around 2,000 personnel to Calabarzon

January 13, 2020

The Philippine National Police( PNP) is ready to deploy around 2,000 personnel to the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) as Taal Volcano remains restive.

“More than 2,000 (standby force) but we can still generate more,” said Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, the PNP officer-in-charge, in a press briefing on Monday.

Gamboa said the deputy chief for operations, Police Lieutenant General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, will visit the region to assess the situation and see what help the PNP can provide. 

He said they are also preparing any equipment the region will request and he said they are ready to provide biscuits and water for police personnel who are conducting search and rescue operations as well as transport relief goods.

“We are going to account for our reserve force here at the national headquarters because the Calabarzon (police) might need additional manpower and of course the deputy chief for operations with important staff will go to Calabarzon to assess what we can help and provide there,” Gamboa said.

“We are still waiting for the national disaster committee to call for a conference. The PNP will be attending (it) so that we will be given specific task,” he added.

Cascolan said their command center has been activated which can help them have a contact with rescue units in the region.

He also said Philippine National Police Academy cadets were evacuated and will help in search and rescue operations.

“There will be checkpoints so relief goods that will be coming in will go to the areas that was not much affected. (They) will stay there for a while and then the other municipalities and cities will be have to sustain on those relief goods,” Cascolan said, adding it will be the disaster agency that will manage the relief goods.

Gamboa said they will have enough N95 mask and safety goggles for their personnel to keep them safe during operations.

He added they will also convince and force people to not go back to the danger zone.

“I think we are very firm, even the government as a whole, that when you said no entry zone, danger zone. The PNP is there to help the appropriate government agency in charge to convince and force people not to go back to danger zone because our primary consideration is the life of people,” Gamboa said.

“But of course we cannot prevent some (people) who will still sneak in but the PNP will do its best to avert these things from happening,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS