PNP News Releases 2005

PNP UNITS MOBILIZED FOR OPLAN SAKLOLO; HOARDERS, PROFITEERS WARNED

The Philippine National Police has activated Oplan Saklolo in provinces afftected by typhoon “Winnie” even as the country braces for typhoon “Yoyong” that is expected to hit Luzon and the Visayas today.

Oplan Saklolo places all PNP Units on full alert to perform disaster rescue and relief missions.

The PNP has committed the Special Action Force, Maritime Group, and the Regional and Provincial Mobile Groups for search and rescue missions under the direction of Regional Disaster Cooordinating Councils (RDCC).

PNP Chief, Director General Edgar B Aglipay has cancelled the scheduled PNP Command Conference in Cebu City on Saturday to allow the PNP to focus on disaster relief and rescue operations in the provinces affected by typhoon “Winnie”.

Aglipay ordered that all funds to be used for the Command Conference be given instead to Police Provincial Offices in areas severely affected by the disaster for their rescue and relief missions.

The Chief PNP flew to Central and Northern Luzon today to personally assess the ongoing rescue and relief operations by PNP Units and other government agencies.

The DILG earlier directed the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist the PNP in rescue and relief operations.

Aglipay also directed the CIDG and all PNP Regional Offices to undertake police action to insure the steady supply of basic commodities and food products in areas affected by the disaster.

Local Police Units, in coordination with the DTI and LGUs, were directed to monitor the supply and prices of essential commodities in public markets, and to arrest hoarders, profiteers, unscrupulous traders, and price-control violators who may take advantage of the situation.

The Police Community Relations Group was also directed to mobilize Non-Government Organizations and Civic Groups to extend assistance to rescue and relief operations.

For immediate response to disaster emergency situations, the public may text or call Patrol 117.