The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Monday that a lone fatality was recorded in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) amid the onslaught of typhoon "Quinta."
PNP Chief General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan confirmed the incident as he announced that a total of 1,129 police personnel were fielded to conduct disaster relief operations in areas hit by Quinta.
"Our PNP personnel are on the ground now. We don't have complete equipment yet but we are trying our best to at least be able to help and respond to those who are in need. What is important for us for them to get help whenever necessary,” Cascolan said.
Mark Timbal, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said they have yet to determine if the fatality was connected to Quinta.
He said the still unidentified victim was reported missing on Saturday, October 24, until authorities found the body a day later in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.
"We're looking into that although what we got initially was that the incident happened on the 24th, before Quinta," Timbal said.
Meanwhile, Cascolan said the deployed cops were trained to conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations. At least 6,359 additional personnel were placed on stand-by.
He said the PNP National Headquarters also mobilized its Police Regional Offices along Quinta's path to initiate proactive response measures for the affected families.
Citing reports from the ground, Cascolan said a total of 40,682 individuals were already evacuated in Bicol Region (Region 5), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, and Eastern Visayas.
These data have yet to undergo validation by the NDRRMC.
Cascolan said policemen were also deployed to ensure peace and order in evacuation centers and in communities to avoid looting incidents in their vacated homes.
"We have our PNP personnel who are actually guarding these areas so that looting will not happen. Anyway, there will be no problem because we have the food packs ready and with the PNP Food Bank, we would also be producing food for these people who were evacuated in force," Cascolan noted.
Further, there were 3,558 passengers stranded in various ports in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas after sea travels were canceled due to bad weather.
There were also 105 flooded areas in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region, and 16 roads were rendered not passable due to flooding and fallen debris.