PRO5 sends aid to Leyte storm victims

By Cet Dematera

The Philippine National Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) has dispatched on Monday, Dec. 20, a 58-man team from the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) to distribute relief goods and help the victims of Super Typhoon Odette that barrelled through Leyte and its adjacent provinces over the weekend.

Gen. Jonnel Estomo, Bicol police director, said that the team of responders on board three trucks, a PNP bus, a Hilux patrol, and a van, that were also loaded with 1,000 food packs, 100 sacks of rice, and P10,000 worth of goodies for children.

The food packs came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the sacks of rice from PRO5.

Estomo said the support force would heed directly to Biliran, one of the worst Leyte towns, to help in the clearing and other relief operations and distribute the assistance.

He said he immediately organized the relief mission after reports that these Visayan provinces were battered to the ground by the super howler.

“There is no way for us not to extend our assistance to our displaced brothers and sisters in Visayas. Bicolanos are always ready to help because they also perennially experience such difficulties during calamities,” Estomo said.

Super typhoon Yolando also battered Easter Visayas, leaving over 10,000 people dead or missing, in 2013.