PNP officer who projected 10,000 died from ‘Yolanda’ to be reinstated

MANILA, Philippines–After a police director was relieved from his post for claiming that 10,000 died from Supertyphoon Yolanda, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II has assured that he will be reinstated.

Roxas said in a radio report on Tuesday that Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, regional director of Eastern Visayas Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8), would report back to his office until such time he recovers from the devastation wrought by Yolanda.

But Roxas, who also chairs the disaster mitigation council, clarified that if Soria would not be capable to render his duty as regional director, he will be given another post.

While the relieved police general undergoes stress debriefing, Police Chief Superintendent Henry Losanes, former director of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, will take over as PRO 8 regional director.

The Interior secretary added that Soria had a clean record and background while serving as a police officer.

Soria told reporters in Tacloban city his rough estimate of 10,000 fatalities which was quoted by several news agencies, both local and international.

As of Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council announced the death toll rose to 5,500.