Coast Guard helps Iloilo flood victims following Lacson’s call

Coast Guard District Western Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Following an urgent call from Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, the Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas rushed on Tuesday to Iloilo residents affected by floods brought by Tropical Storm Agaton.

Included in the the rescue and relief efforts are residents along the highway between Iloilo and Roxas City in Capiz, said Retired Vice Admiral Edmund Tan, former Coast Guard Commandant.

Lacson, who called Tan regarding the situation after receiving updates from Iloilo, thanked the Coast Guard and the Lacson-Sotto Support Group (LSSG), which also started relief operations, for their quick response.

“Eto na ang action agad,” he said.

Citing initial reports he received, Lacson noted residents along the highway from Iloilo to Roxas City were stranded due to floods brought by Tropical Cyclone Agaton.

After receiving the initial information of residents’ plight from Lacson, Tan said he informed Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, who instructed the Coast Guard in the area to “act accordingly.”

Commodore Ed Ybañez, the Coast Guard District Commander in Western Visayas, said rescue operations are ongoing in Iloilo and Capiz.

Ybañez added he has deployed seven Deployable Response Group (DRG) teams from the district.

Tan is part of the LSSG, a volunteer group of at least 300 retired AFP, PNP and PCG personnel recruiting and campaigning for Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

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