Police search-and-rescue ops more prepared vs. typhoon ‘Pedring’, says Bartolome

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the police force was more prepared when Typhoon Pedring (international codename: Nesat) hit the country.

Bartolome said the PNP’s experience in search and rescue operations and disaster response during Typhoons Ondoy and Peping urged them to strive to be better prepared by the time Typhoon Pedring pounded the country.

He said it became even more important to be better prepared for disasters with knowledge about proper procedures as lives were at stake.

“Pag mali ang procedure… buhay ang katapat (If the procedure is wrong, lives are at stake,” the PNP chief said.

He reported their units had “vigorously conducted search and rescue operations and assisted local disaster risk reduction and management councils in evacuating affected families.”

Bartolome said that they were aiming for “zero casualties in the future.”