Teodoro tells protesters to disperse early ahead of super typhoon Nando

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro on Sunday appealed to protesters to disperse early, to free up thoroughfares and give security personnel time to rest, as they will still have to be deployed to areas set to be affected by super typhoon Nando (international name: Ragasa).

According to Teodoro, an additional workforce had to be deployed from Central Luzon to attend to the September 21 protests, and will again be deployed for rescue and relief efforts in the coming days due to the inclement weather conditions.

“’Yung mga police na nagca-crowd control kanina at ‘yung mga nag-o-augment, sila mismong inaasahan na katulong natin na sumagip sa mga komunidad na in need mamayang gabi, bukas, at kinabukasan pa,” he said in an interview.

“Nakikiusap lang po tayo na sana maagang matapos kasi po ang EDSA at lahat ng major thoroughfares, kailangan bukas po sa trapiko ‘yan kasi ito nga, kailangan may freedom of movement lahat ng mga vehicles po natin lalong lalo na kung kailangan natin mag-augment either ng tao or ng supplies sa mga inaasahang tatamaan ng bagyo,” he added.

(The police who were doing crowd control earlier, along with those augmenting, are the same ones we expect to help rescue communities in need tonight, tomorrow, and in the coming days.

We’re just asking that the protests end early because EDSA and all major thoroughfares need to remain open to traffic. We need freedom of movement for all vehicles, especially if we have to deploy personnel or supplies to areas expected to be hit by the typhoon.)

Nando, which was classified as a super typhoon on Sunday morning, is expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, the Visayas, Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental on Sunday.—LDF, GMA Integrated News