PNP: Stop hoax texts

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 is appealing to the public not to spread hoax text messages especially if it involves important matters like the distribution of relief goods.

This after relief ope-rations were hampered in parts of Leyte last Tuesday after reports of alleged armed men were seen in areas where relief goods were supposed to be delivered.

PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino explained that the more the people will scare relief good volunteers, the more they get hungry.

“Imbes na matulo-ngan sila, ito’y nakakadagdag lalo ng gulo dahil natatakot nang pumunta du’n ang may dala ng relief goods,” Constantino said in a press conference.

Constantino further denied the reports on the presence of rebels who allegedly harassed and ambushed volunteers which was verified by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The PRO-7 assured to escort volunteers who will be sending relief goods from Cebu to Tacloban City but will be done by batch since they cannot accommodate all of the groups all at once.

“Clear naman ‘yung route from Ormoc to Tacloban kaya lang hindi puwedeng sabay-sabay kasi hindi natin ma-accommodate lahat,” he said.

Regional Intelligence Division officer-in-charge, Supt. Pablo Labra, said they also received reports from Leyte on armed men but has not been validated by ground commanders in the area.

“Our intelligence personnel are still in the field and I directed them to double their efforts in securing vital installation,” he said.

At least 100 personnel of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB)-7 were sent to the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City to help in the loading and unloading of relief goods.

As of 9:00 in the morning yesterday, the Office of Civil Defense confirmed 72 fatalities, 345 injured and five remain missing in Central Visayas due to super typhoon “Yolanda.”

Records also showed that families who have been displaced have reached 109,829 or 503,258 individuals and the number of damaged houses have also reached 65,728.  (FREEMAN)