The Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) dispatched on Monday a 58-man team from the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) to distribute relief goods to Leyte and adjacent provinces battered by Typhoon Odette over the weekend.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, PRO5 regional director, said the team of responders were onboard three trucks, a PNP bus, a Hilux patrol, and a van which were loaded with 1,000 food packs, 100 sacks of rice, and PHP10,000 worth of items for children.

The food packs came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while the sacks of rice from PRO5.

He said the team headed directly to Biliran to help in the clearing and other relief operations and distribute the assistance.

Estomo said he immediately organized the relief mission following reports these Visayas provinces were battered by Odette.

“There is no way for us not to extend our assistance to our displaced brothers and sisters in Visayas. Bicolanos are always ready to help because they also perennially experience such difficulties during calamities,” he said. (PNA)