Cops deployed to prevent looting in affected communities after Bulusan eruption —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said policemen have been deployed to business establishments in affected areas to prevent possible looting incidents following Sunday's phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano.

"This is to ensure that the lawbreakers are not going to proliferate in the areas," said PNP director for operations Police Major General Valeriano de Leon at a press briefing.

He said looting usually happens during period of calamities and disasters, "whether it is man-made or natural."

De Leon said some 87 police personnel were deployed to the affected areas and more personnel are on stand-by in case of eventualities.

While acknowledging that some affected residents may resort to looting to survive, De Leon pointed out that a calamity is not a “gate pass” to commit illegal activity.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 180 people or 50 families have been evacuated in Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban due to the ashfall and its pungent odor.

“Most of the evacuees are the vulnerable sector such as children, pregnant women and senior citizens,” it added.

De Leon said no casualties have been reported so far.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said in its 5 a.m. bulletin a total of 29 volcanic earthquakes have been monitored in Bulusan Volcano in the past 24 hours.

According to the PHIVOLCS, the plume from Bulusan Volcano's crater rose up to 150 meters tall then drifted northwest. The volcano edifice was also inflated, it added.

From Alert Level 0, PHIVOLCS raised Alert Level 1 over Bulusan Volcano after the recent phreatic eruption that lasted for 17 minutes. —KBK, GMA News