PNP tells 200 cops affected by Taal eruption to look after their families first

January 15, 2020

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Wednesday told more than 200 policemen affected by Taal Volcano eruption to attend to their families first.

“There are 278 policemen who are also affected so the guidance of the regional director--we do not expect them to go on duty--take care of their families first… so that when their families are already settled, that's the time that they can render back duty," said Police Lt. Gen Archie Francisco Gamboa, the PNP officer-in-charge.

Gamboa said some cops still went on duty despite being affected by the eruption which happened last January 12.

The PNP Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) office deployed around 1,000 policemen and Gamboa said they are ready to deploy 278 personnel to help them.

Gamboa went to areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption last Tuesday where he was briefed they will only send cops to Calabarzon if needed.

“Because if you will increase the number of people there, it might become a problem like where they will stay? And really even the regional office is full of ashes,” he said.

“I said… if you need more or exactly you need 278 replacements from them coming from the NHQ ( National Headquarters) whose families are not affected then just tell us,” he said.

He also reminded PNP personnel going on search, rescue and rehabilitation operations to protect themselves.

“We have already issued N95 masks, goggles and raincoats to protect our personnel from the ashfall and other hazardous elements that might be present in the atmosphere,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa also said the PNP will provide financial assistance for the affected policemen and residents.

“On the part of the PNP we are releasing at least P10,000 for ever policeman affected so that's around P2.78 million which will be releasing to the regional director to help the affected policemen,” he said.

A running amount of P2.5 million was collected from policemen through their P10 voluntary contribution which will be given to affected residents.

"Initially, we urged the different regional offices to collect voluntary contributions from the policemen at P10 each but some regions, they requested the policemen to contribute more," Gamboa said. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 53, 019 persons were affected by the eruption, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ( NDRRMC). Ella Dionisio/DMS