The Philippine National Police-Special Action Force has redeployed some of its personnel conducting anti-insurgency operations in the northern part of Luzon to Cagayan and Isabela to assist in the ongoing relief and rescue operations in the two provinces which were swept by massive flooding since Friday.
SAF director Police Major Gen. Bernabe Balba said several teams of SAF commandos were sent to Cagayan Saturday on board two trucks and rubber boats that will be used in rescuing who were trapped in their houses.
“There were already SAF personnel in the region (Cagayan Valley) who were earlier instructed to assist in the search and rescue operations for those who were buried in the landslides,” Balba said.
“But we sent additional forces there, especially from Kalinga to help in conducting search and rescue operations in the area of Cagayan wherein families have been affected by flash floods,” he added.
Balba said SAF commandos in Bicol and Southern Tagalog have been busy assisting those who were affected by the flooding in Bicol, Metro Manila, and nearby provinces. Other personnel were also tapped in road clearing operations.
He said the deployment of SAF personnel is urgent since thousands of people in the affected residents need immediate assistance due to the effects of typhoon “Ulysses.”
SAF is among the well-trained and well-equipped units of the PNP. Its personnel are trained in disaster response and other calamity response-related missions.