INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police placed early Friday on full alert its police regional units where typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) is expected to make landfall.
Deputy Director Leonardo Espina, PNP Deputy Chief for Operation, said eight police regional offices (PROs) went on full alert status effective 6 a.m. on Friday.
The PROs on full alert status are the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao, and Caraga.
In Eastern Visayas, members of its PRO’s Public Safety Battalion have been sent to the streets of Tacloban City to augment the security in stores and shops where residents there trooped to buy supplies.
Superintendent Carlos Centinaje, police-community relations officer of Eastern Visayas regional police said that about 30 members of the regional public safety battalion were deployed in the city.
Tacloban City in Eastern Visayas was the hardest hit during the onslaught of supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013. Thousands were killed in the city alone.
As of Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronimical Services Administration said Ruby packed maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gusts of up to 250 kph.
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