Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. has ordered the deployment of 1,356 police officers to Cebu province and nearby areas following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
According to Nartatez, various teams from the disaster response units of Police Regional Office 8 and the Negros Island Region were immediately dispatched to Cebu to provide urgent assistance after the quake.
The deployment includes 64 police personnel from the regional PNP Maritime Units of Regions 6, 7, 8, and the Negros Island Region. Special Operations Units were also sent to Bogo City, Bantayan Island, and San Remigio.
“The quick actions of our personnel in Central Visayas and the nearby regions demonstrated the PNP’s commitment to protecting lives, not only by maintaining peace and order but also by taking direct action in emergency situations,” Nartatez said.
He added that amid power outages and aftershocks, the PNP assisted in the evacuation of patients and medical staff from hospitals.
“Our police officers are not just enforcers of the law, they are first responders who act with urgency and compassion in times of crisis,” he stressed.
In addition, police units have been tasked to reinforce security in evacuation centers, schools, and key infrastructure to ensure the safe transport and distribution of relief goods.