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PNP closely monitoring weather situation in Regions 11, 8

January 16, 2023 Alfred P. Dalizon 212 views

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Monday said they are closely monitoring the situation in some areas in Southern Philippines and Eastern Visayas, which have been affected by heavy rains triggered by prevailing severe weather conditions.

The top cop said that already, a total of 3,476 PNP personnel had been deployed in the affected areas to assist in “search, rescue and retrieval missions,” the ongoing operations being monitored by the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame.

The official said they had recorded two casualties so far in Laoang and San Isidro municipalities in Northern Samar. The victims were one member of the Armed Forces and a civilian who drowned after being carried by strong water currents.

Two senior citizens were also reported to have drowned too in Maydolong, Eastern Samar, he added.

Azurin said he has given commanders of Area Police Commands the authority to exercise operational control over regional and provincial mobile force units for disaster response operations in affected areas, particularly in the Zamboanga peninsula, which is currently experiencing massive flooding.

He likewise said that PNP national operational support units with disaster response and search and rescue capabilities, including those from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the PNP Maritime Group (MG), have been deployed to the affected areas.

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