MANILA: The government’s disaster response agency yesterday placed all its units under red alert due to tropical storm “Jelawat”, which was expected to continue to intensify during the weekend.
Undersecretary Benito Ramos, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that with the red alert level already in effect, national, regional, provincial, city and town disaster units along the projected path of the storm, are now on call for anti-disaster response.
“All our local disaster units are now on red alert for possible occurrence of any emergency. We have alerted residents living in low lying areas and mountainous slopes against possible flashfloods and landslides,” Ramos said.
Ramos said that all disaster units from the regional to barangay level in Bicol and Eastern Visayas are already conducting round the clock weather monitoring. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Eastern Visayas has been directed to issue advisory to all its stations to prevent small seacrafts, especially fishing boats, to avoid venturing into the sea due to the prevailing weather system in the eastern seaboard.
Rebel extortionist falls in Iloilo
MANILA: Combined Army and police troops arrested a long-wanted communist party member based in Panay Island in Iloilo province yesterday.
Major General Jose Mabanta Jr, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said 58-year-old Mateo Suares alias Ka Badong, was cornered at about 9am by Army and police elements in Barangay Carmelo, Banate town.
Suares, the alleged finance officer of the New People’s Army in Panay, has pending warrants of arrest for a string of criminal cases. Mabanta said that as finance officer, Suares is actively engage in extortion activities in Panay Island.
His arrest came at the time when Army troops in Panay are scheduled to launch a “football” caravan next week in the whole of Western Visayas.
The Philippine star
