PNP readies 10,000 personnel for Taal eruption response

Nearly 10,000 Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel have been placed on standby for rapid deployment following the Taal Volcano's eruption.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa stated that these standby personnel are primarily from Luzon, particularly areas near Batangas and Cavite.

The PNP has deployed a total of 1,821 police Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel to the affected areas.

Of these, 244 PNP personnel are securing vacated communities, while 332 more are patrolling areas declared off-limits to prevent looting and exposure to hazardous volcanic fumes.

The PNP has committed various assets, including 68 trucks, 53 4x4 troop carriers, 12 buses, 5 aircraft, and 26 watercraft, to the disaster response mission.

Police have assisted a total of 129,819 individuals during the forced evacuation.

The quick response of the police has resulted in zero casualties and zero incidents of looting or major crime in the affected regions.