PNP relief drive for cops affected by ‘Yolanda’ starts

PNP Director General Alan Purisima INQUIRER File Photo

MANILA, Philippines–Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and other PNP directorial staff set off for Leyte early Friday to distribute relief assistance to calamity-stricken policemen.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Rueben Theodore Sindac said in a press briefing that the police officials’ trip is part of the PNP’s humanitarian caravan for Eastern Visayas  policemen affected by supertyphoon ‘‘Yolanda’’.

Sindac said Purisima will turn over to them relief assistance, both in cash and in kind, in Camp Kangleon in Palo town.

A total of 3,187 policemen have been affected by Yolanda. Sindac said they would be given food supplies, new set of uniforms, athletic and camouflage shirts, combat boots and other police-related items. They would also receive cash from the P3.7 million the PNP got from cash donations.

Sindac said the PNP chief also brought with him construction materials to enable the policemen to start rebuilding their damaged homes.

Officials have estimated the damage to PNP structures in the region to be worth more than P225 million. Sindac said the funds that would be used for the reconstruction of these structures would have to be included in the proposed budget of the PNP.