PNP activates reactionary standby support force amid Rolly onslaught

The Philippine National Police has activated its Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF), to boost its force and possibly lead incident management and disaster response amid Typhoon Rolly's onslaught in the Philippines.

PNP chief General Camilo Cascolan on Sunday said all police units have been placed on full alert, with ongoing efforts to preventively evacuate households residing along coastal areas.

"We are in coordination with LGUs for preemptive evacuations. We are currently conducting preventive evacuation of all people residing near coastal areas," he said in a statement.

"Here at the national headquarters, we activated the RSSF for possible augmentation and to lead during critical incident management and disaster response of PNP," he added.

Cascolan said he ordered all commanders to coordinate with local government units and local offices of the Office of Civil Defense on the specific assistance that the police could provide to ensure public safety.

The PNP said it has prepared food packs for relief operations in areas hit by the typhoon, with food bank resources prepositioned within the proximity of designated evacuation centers. It has also readied the availability of trucks for its Libreng Sakay Program.

"We are calling on our people in affected areas to stay safe, alert and informed, and heed the orders of authorities particularly for preemptive evacuation that may be enforced. The PNP will be there where we are needed most, and together we will weather the storm," said Cascolan.

Typhoon Rolly weakened into a typhoon before noon on Sunday, but still poses a threat as a number of areas remain under various tropical cyclone wind signals. —LBG, GMA News