Cebu: With search and rescue operations completed, police personnel deployed in Cebu and other areas hit by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake have shifted their focus to relief and rehabilitation efforts, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the redeployment, noting that all missing persons have been accounted for, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
According to Philippines News Agency, the focus of the operation for personnel on the ground includes security, medical aid, road clearing, and providing logistics or transportation as part of efforts to restore normalcy in the affected areas. Tua±o emphasized the importance of maintaining security to prevent looting.
A red alert status remains over Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu, to maximize relief efforts and disaster response operations. PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Deputy Chief Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag Jr. reported no crimes following the tremor, allowing police personnel to concentrate on relief and security operations.
Marallag stated that 2,250 officers from the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) have been deployed in the affected areas, with additional personnel in Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, and Eastern Visayas. The PNP’s Reserve Standby Support Force (RSSF) also provided personnel and resources, including speed boats from the Maritime Group.
Acknowledging the personal impact of the quake on police personnel, Marallag mentioned that 36 PNP personnel affected by the quake were permitted to prioritize their families while ensuring sufficient forces remain to assist the community.
Meanwhile, PNP Community Affairs Division Chief Col. Esmeraldo Osia Jr. noted structural damage to police stations in northern Cebu, the area nearest the epicenter. PNP civil engineers, supported by experts from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, are set to conduct a detailed damage assessment.
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. commended police officers for their immediate response to the quake’s impact, highlighting their role not only as law enforcers but also as first responders. Police officers have been actively involved in attending to the injured, evacuating people, and securing critical infrastructure.
Police units have also started securing evacuation centers, schools, government facilities, and other critical infrastructure in affected areas, showcasing the PNP’s commitment to protecting lives and maintaining order in crisis situations.