PNP disaster response goes on despite Uwan damage to cop facilities

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

Based on police records, Uwan damaged 24 police stations and two headquarters across Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas. Two police vehicles were also damaged, while 27 uniformed personnel and one non-uniformed personnel were affected by the storm, with some losing personal properties. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it continues to ensure public safety and non-stop law enforcement amid the recent damage caused by Super Typhoon Uwan to police facilities nationwide.

Based on police records, Uwan damaged 24 police stations and two headquarters across Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

Two police vehicles were also damaged, while 27 uniformed personnel and one non-uniformed personnel were affected by the storm, with some losing personal properties.

“There were temporary disruptions in some areas, especially in regions na tinamaan ng malakas ng Typhoon Uwan pero agad po nating na-restore ang (severely hit by Typhoon Uwan but we were able to restore immediately the) communication lines and operational control. Our command centers remained functional,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

“Even if a number of our police stations and offices were damaged and some of our personnel were also affected, your police continued their duties. Some even operated from temporary posts just to ensure public safety and continuous coordination with local responders.”

The PNP conducted rapid damage assessment of all affected police stations and headquarters, and activated temporary command posts and relocation centers for units unable to operate in their regular facilities.

“Overall, I would say our disaster preparedness and response were timely and effective,” Nartatez said, adding that their personnel and assets had been prepositioned before Uwan made landfall.

“We alerted our units in all regions at nag-deploy tayo ng mga personnel para tumulong sa (and we deployed personnel to assist in) preemptive evacuation, search and rescue, (and) relief operations. Despite the magnitude of the typhoon, operational pa rin ang majority ng ating units (the majority of our units were operational.”

The PNP, he said, would also provide emergency assistance to police personnel affected by the typhoon, including support for damaged homes and lost personal property.

Amid ongoing recovery efforts after the earlier onslaught of Typhoon Tino, law enforcers in Central Visayas also managed to arrest 183 suspects in a weeklong intensified operation conducted from Nov. 2 to 8.

Authorities apprehended 84 drug suspects, seizing 647.67 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP4,404,156.

Anti-firearms operations resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals and the recovery of 36 unregistered firearms, three explosives, and 204 rounds of ammunition.

A total of 41 warrants of arrest were also served, capturing 11 most wanted individuals and 30 other wanted persons.

Efforts against illegal gambling led to 44 arrests and the confiscation of PHP7,813 in gambling proceeds.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in acknowledging the efforts of local government units across the country for their swift and decisive action in carrying out preemptive evacuations and early response operations during Uwan’s onslaught.

Through prompt warnings, clear coordination, and on-the-ground leadership, governors, mayors, barangay officials, and disaster response teams safely moved more than 1.6 million individuals, or nearly 490,000 families, away from danger.

“These efforts prevented greater loss of life and demonstrated the power of proactive governance and community cooperation,” the DILG said in a statement.