Police forces nationwide now under heightened alert over 'Inday'
Police forces across the country were placed under heightened alert in anticipation of the adverse effects of typhoon “Inday”, an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Police Col. Jonathan Abella, chief of the Community Affairs Division of the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), said the heightened alert status covers not only territorial police forces, or from municipal police stations to Police Regional Offices, but also all the National Support Units of the PNP.
The alert status took effect on Thursday, July 9, and Abella said it is intended to ensure operational readiness to ensure the safety and security of the public.
Under heightened alert, at least 50 percent of manpower in every unit must be present and ready to be deployed anytime.
Part of the measures, he said, is activating the PNP’s disaster preparedness and response protocols that include putting on stanby and deployment of Search, Rescue, and Retrieval Teams, Quick Response Teams, and disaster response personnel.
He said rescue equipment, patrol vehicles, communication assets, and other emergency response resources have likewise been inspected and prepositioned in areas that may be affected by the typhoon.
“Our police units are working closely with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, local government units, and other response agencies to support preemptive evacuation efforts, secure evacuation centers, maintain peace and order, and provide traffic management and public safety assistance where necessary,” said Abella.
“We have also directed all police commanders to continuously monitor developments in their respective areas of responsibility and promptly respond to any emergency or request for assistance,” he added.
“Inday” weakened into a typhoon after it entered the country’s area of responsibility on Wednesday morning but weather experts said it maintained its broad circulation, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 870 kilometers from its center.
Storm signal number 2 was hoisted over Batanes while 11 other provinces remain under storm signal number 1.
Abella then urged the public to heed the instructions of local authorities, particularly regarding preemptive evacuation, and avoid unnecessary travel in areas that may be affected by flooding, landslides, or other hazards.