PNP CHIEF VISITS CENTRAL LUZON, PROVIDES AID TO TYPHOON-HIT PRO3 PERSONNEL

BY KEVIN GALANG

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil on Saturday visited areas in  Central Luzon damaged by super typhoon “Carina” and provided much-needed assistance to Police Regional Office 3 personnel also affected by flooding in the region.

Marbil was accompanied by PNP Director for Police-Community Relations Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus D. Alba in distributing relief goods and financial assistance to personnel of the Macabebe and Masantol Municipal Police Stations in Pampanga to highlight the PNP’s commitment to ensure the welfare of its personnel and their families during times of crisis.

According to the country’s top cop, their men are the backbone of our community’s safety and security.

“It is our duty to ensure they receive the support they need during these trying times,” said  Marbil.

Aside from the basic commodities, the PNP chief handed P10,000 cash assistance  to each of the 32 PRO3 beneficiaries from the Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales police and the regional headquarters.

The Regional Medical Unit 3  provided basic medicines and supplies, including pain relievers, antibiotics, and vitamins.

“This gesture of our PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil sends a message to everyone especially to the members of the PNP that each one is important and that as a family, the PNP cares and values everyone,” Police Regional Office 3 director Jose Hidalgo Jr. said.

As of last Friday, a total of 2,082 PNP personnel, including 2,027 uniformed and 55 non-uniformed members, have been affected by the calamity, the PNP said.

In addition to immediate relief efforts, Marbil instructed  the PRO3 top cop to grant special emergency calamity leave to those severely-impacted by the typhoon in order to further alleviate the burden on those who have suffered significant losses.

The PNP chief also ordered a full assessment of the overall situation in the affected areas to ensure that all necessary resources are mobilized efficiently to aid in the recovery and rehabilitation process.

Before he left the region, Marbil gave each police officer a simple tap on the back to acknowledge their tireless commitment in ensuring public safety and security even in the fact of adversity and while being away from their own families.