MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Alan Purisima arrived in Palo, Leyte last Friday to extend his department’s food and financial assistance to police personnel affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” in said city.
After visiting the heavily damaged PNP-CIDG office in Tacloban City, Purisima went to PNP Regional Headquarters in Camp Kangleon here to lead the distribution of relief assistance to typhoon-stricken policemen.
The Police Chief handed over initial relief insurance benefits to families of six policemen who died during the onslaught of Yolanda amounting to P71,000 each.
He noted that the remaining insurance benefits for deceased cops with a total amount of 2.3 million are already being processed.
The policemen were: SPO4 Rogelio Alba of Tacloban City Police Office; SPO1 Edgar Evina, PO2 Adelfo Lopez, and PO2 Jaffy Villegas all from Leyte Police Provincial Office; PO3 Gerardo Rojas and SPO4 Saballa from CIDG.
Three out of the 6,271 policemen assigned in the region have yet to be accounted for.
Purisima also led the distribution of 4,000 food and non-food items to 3,187 police personnel affected by the calamity. Some 1,500 police uniforms were also distributed including athletic and camouflage uniforms and shoes.
He also provided P10,000 additional benefits for the six police casualties, P5,000 each for 16 injured policemen and P3,000 for 453 personnel affected by the typhoon.
Purisima also committed financial assistance donated by various PNP regional offices and national support units amounting to P3.2 million with additional pledges of P506,000 to be given to all affected PNP personnel.
He, likewise, announced the early release of 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses for all police personnel in Eastern Visayas.
Affected police personnel could also apply for a special calamity loan of up to P30,000 with zero percent interest and emergency loan of up to P50,000 with three percent interest, added Purisima.
He said there is P4-million assistance fund for the entire PNP and Armed Forces personnel in Leyte and Samar.
The Police Chief also flew in three doctors, six psychologists, five nurses and five aid men from the health service in Manila to cure all injured personnel and to help address post-traumatic needs of the affected policemen.
He also assured enough supplies of medicines, antibiotics, and vitamins for the cops.
Purisima also donated two generator sets, two units of water purifier systems, computers and scanners for various PNP offices in Leyte and Samar.
“These may be simple tokens of appreciation for what you have done in the name of service and commitment to your responsibility as law enforcers but they symbolize our great concern for you,” he said.
“Let us continue to be united and be optimistic that there is no storm or obstacle that is so great that could break our spirit or defeat our collective strength,” he added.
