PNP Chief, “Pulis Nyo Po” Director General Nicanor A Bartolome has extended the commendation of the national leadership to all members of the Philippine National Police who figured prominently in disaster rescue and relief operations for flood victims in Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon inundated by monsoon rains.

“The simple gesture of extending a helping hand goes a long way in establishing government presence in areas where help is needed most,” the Chief PNP said.

“We know that many police officers and their families were themselves victims of the flood in their residences. But despite their own predicament, our policemen made personal sacrifices to perform their sworn duty to enforce the law and ensure public safety,” Bartolome said as he commended all Police Regional Offices and National Support Units that responded swiftly to calls for police assistance to life threatening situations in areas that were hit hard by rising flood waters, landslide and other geo hazards brought by more than ten days of continuous heavy monsoon rains.

Bartolome assured affected police personnel of assistance from the PNP leadership as soon as the situation normalizes. 

The PNP Disaster Response Plan “Oplan Saklolo” remains in effect in most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila where rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations are still underway.

PNP Spokesman, Chief Superintendent Generoso R Cerbo Jr. said even as the weather had significantly improved on Thursday and Friday, PNP rescue units remain deployed in some affected areas where some flood victims need to be evacuated to safer ground or be supplied with basic provisions.

Along major roads and thoroughfares cutting across Luzon from North to South, local police and Highway Patrol Group units remain in their posts to provide traffic direction and control and motorist assistance especially in roads that remain under water.

Troop augmentation and logistics support continue to pour into the National Headquarters from unaffected regions. These resources were deployed to priority areas.

As of Friday, August 10, a total of 2,236 SAR-trained police personnel had been deployed in affected areas in Luzon. Also deployed to provide support were 91 trucks and troop carriers, 35 rubber boats, and 29 ambulances.

A rescue and relief operations center has been put-up at the Police Community Relations Group in Camp Crame to serve as jump-off point for rescue and distribution hub for relief operations.

At the height of rescue operations on Wednesday, August 8^th, the PNP had to postpone the scheduled 111^th police service anniversary celebration because of the contingency. (PNP-PIO)