Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil tasked the agency鈥檚 Maritime Group to coordinate with local government units for deployment of personnel in a bid to prevent cases of drowning.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame on Thursday, PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tua帽o said the police force was eyeing to deploy more personnel near swimming areas in anticipation of more people flocking to them for the summer.
鈥淎ng partikular na unit sa mga ganyan ay ang ating Maritime Group. Kaya sila ay nautusan ng ating Chief PNP na makipag-ugnayan sa mga local government,鈥� Tua帽o said.
(The particular unit for those is our Maritime Group. That鈥檚 why they鈥檝e been tasked by our Chief PNP to coordinate with local governments.)
Data from the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) released on Thursday showed that 97 individuals were victims of drowning incidents from April 1 to May 31, 2024.
Of this number, 94 perished, two were injured and one was unharmed.
READ: PNP stays on heightened alert for summer, to deploy 40,000 cops
The PNP also said on Thursday that it was maintaining its heightened alert status for the summer, deploying 40,151 officers to secure roads, transport terminals, tourist destinations and crowded areas.