Police Gen. Archie Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police, has ordered that all policemen based in Camp Crame, Quezon City who were pulled out of the relief and assistance duties in Taal Volcano eruption-affected areas be subjected to medical examination.
Gamboa said the move is to ensure that all the 2,000 policemen are in good health amid the possible adverse health effects of the ashes that covered the areas where they were deployed.
“They were advised to visit the PNP General Hospital to undergo checkup for any signs of respiratory ailment after days of deployment in Taal eruption affected areas,” said PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac.
President Duterte had earlier ordered the pullout of all policemen deployed to Taal Volcano affected areas since the situation has started to normalize and to protect them from further exposure to volcanic ashes.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology continues to observe weaker steam emission at the main crater of Taal Volcano yesterday, days after the alert status of the restive volcano was lowered.
Phivolcs pointed out that the activity in the volcano’s main crater from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. yesterday was characterized by “weak emission of white to dirty white steam-laden plumes 300 to 500 meters tall that drifted southwest.”(Aaron Recuenco and Ellalyn Ruiz)