Manila – Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Wednesday ordered mobilization of all personnel and resources to maximize the assistance to all affected residents after Tuesday night’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted the province of Cebu.
Aside from responding to the needs of the affected residents in coordination with local government units (LGUs), Nartatez said policemen were tasked to help secure establishments and vital infrastructure that may have been compromised as a result of the strong earthquake to ensure public safety.
“Our personnel on the ground were among the first responders and we assure the people of Cebu that we will extend all the necessary assistance— from securing affected establishments to attending to the needs of the local residents,” said Nartatez.
The order is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure fast and reliable government assistance to those in need.
Nartatez has directed Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 (Central Visayas) to immediately activate its Disaster Incident Management Task Group and submit a comprehensive report on the impact of the earthquake that struck the Visayas.
He further instructed PRO7 to provide real-time updates to the National Headquarters, particularly on the extent of damage, affected communities, and the operational response being undertaken on the ground.
Nartatez also emphasized the immediate accounting of deployed personnel, logistics readiness, and the conduct of Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA).
Aside from the province of Cebu, police officers in other affected provinces were also instructed to coordinate with the LGUs for any response.
“We are closely monitoring the development on the ground to maximize police assistance in areas where additional manpower, and your PNP is needed,” said Nartatez.
With the strong magnitude and with reported damage on some establishments, Nartatez said they will place on standby personnel from the Engineering Service for technical assistance to the proper authorities.
“Our Engineering Service will be on standby for possible rendering of assistance in the structural integrity inspection of buildings and establishments,” said Nartatez.
Police stations and establishments, he said, will be inspected as part of the efforts to ensure the safety of PNP personnel in Cebu.
He said police forces in the entire province of Cebu were also ordered to keep all their communication lines open for any request for assistance.
Nartatez underscored the importance of close coordination with LGUs, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and other government agencies to ensure a unified and effective disaster response.
He also reminded the regional office to support local evacuation efforts, secure affected areas, and keep the public properly informed through official advisories.
Additional resources from the National Headquarters and nearby regions are on standby to reinforce PRO7 in safeguarding communities and restoring normalcy at the soonest possible time.
“Kagabi pa ay tumulong ang PNP at nagpadala tayo ng augmentation force para tumulong sa search and rescue [operations] sa mga apektadong lugar (As early as last night, the PNP deployed an augmentation force to help in search and rescue operations in affected areas,” Central Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said. (
