Thursday, May 22, 2008 PNP chief provides aid to typhoon-hit Pangasinan
LINGAYEN -- National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. on Wednesday turned over to the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) two truckloads of relief goods for distribution in the province.
Razon said: "More relief goods will be sent here by Camp Crame."
Aside from this support from the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters, Razon committed P2 million financial assistance to the Pangasinan PPO for the repair and rehabilitation of the damaged facilities inside the provincial headquarters, and P500,000 for the La Union PPO.
"We are here not only to assess the peace and order situation of Pangasinan but more importantly, to look at the effects of the recent typhoon that directly passed through Pangasinan," he stated.
He said the responsibility of overseeing the disaster and relief operation in Ilocos Region is with Police Regional Office (PRO) 1 Director Romeo Hilomen, chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).
Razon was accompanied by key directorial staff at Camp Crame in Quezon City led by Police Directors Leopoldo Bataoil (Directorate for Police Community Relations), Charlemagne Alejandrino (Directorate for Logistics), Eli dela Paz (Directorate for Comptrollership), Silverio Alarcio (Directorate for Operations), and Dante Ferrer (Directorate for Intelligence).
Also present were members of PRO-1 directorial staff, the four police provincial directors in Region 1 led by Pangasinan Police Provincial Director Isagani Nerez, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Director Marvin Bolabola and Pangasinan Board Member Amadeo Espino.
"Our police link non-government organizations (NGOs). The distribution will be done in coordination with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development)," he said.
Bataoil said there are 35 NGOs accredited by the PNP under the Federation of PNP Accredited NGOs. These include, among others, the Lions Club, Rotary Clubs, Citizen's Crime Watch, Bantay Bayan Foundation.
The PNP chief also said they will check on the reports of damaged police station buildings and other facilities and they will assess these for financial assistance.
"Along the way here I was looking at the damage and I was amazed by the heavy damage inflicted by the typhoon. I shall be bringing this back to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to help Pangasinan. We brought with us some relief goods courtesy of Director Bataoil who immediately mobilized our NGOs so that we could help alleviate the plight of our countrymen here," he remarked.
Razon said there are no reported police fatalities due to typhoon Cosme.
Before the conference, Razon led the awarding of medals to some members of the Pangasinan PPO.
He also reminded the members of the Pangasinan PPO to always bring with them a copy of the Miranda Doctrine (wallet size) and be ready to read this when making apprehension or arrests.
Those who will be found having no copy of the Miranda Doctrine will be given "fair warning."
Razon also announced the programs and projects being implemented by his leadership. (LCMY/Sunnex)
