Air rescue on the way: Robredo tweets coordination with AFP for saving Cagayan residents amid heavy flooding

Vice President Leni Robredo barely had time to rest from going around areas badly hit by Typhoon Ulysses in Marikina as she coordinated efforts with the military to rescue residents of Cagayan and Isabela, who were trapped on the roofs of their homes due to heavy flooding in the two provinces.

In a tweet posted on 8:07 a.m. Saturday (November 14), Robredo said a military team was on the way to Cagayan and Isabela for aerial rescue.

“Was informed by our team that two choppers already took off from Clark about an hour ago. After prepositioning in Cauayan City, air rescue will already commence,” she said.

Before this, Robredo tweeted the difficulties encountered by the military in traveling to Cagayan and Isabela.

“Phil Army already deployed a platoon there yesterday but they have difficulty adding more because Alcala is no longer possible. Looking for more amphibious assets. LGU has a working Task Force with volunteers but floods have swelled already,” she said Friday (November 13).

Robredo said Saturday midnight that rescue would have to wait until daytime. She, however, said her office has asked assistance from the local police to help people stranded on the roofs of their homes.

“Received word from retired military officer that aerial rescue at night is very dangerous and most civilian choppers and its pilots are not night flying capable,” Robredo said.

“While waiting for augmentation to reach Tuguegarao, our team was able to get in touch with PNP Tuguegarao. We forwarded all the compiled requests and calls for help. Limited assets now but MEDEVAC will be prioritized,” she added.

Updates from the ground:

1. Nag iimprovise na po sila ng balsa, nahihirapan sila kasi madami daw po talaga nag rqst na ma rescue;

2. Yung sa Linao East yung Coast Guard at PNP Maritime wt rubber boats lng nakakapasok kasi lagpas tao yung tubig.

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 13, 2020

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)