PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. reminded on Sunday, July 31, 2022, police personnel to continue with the conduct of anti-criminality efforts in areas affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra despite reeling from the effects of the calamity.“We are being challenged by this natural disaster but our fighting spirit won’t falter. We must show strength during this trying time,” Danao told policemen in a statement.“My instruction is to assist in the rescue and response even up to now that aftershocks are still recorded. But our officers must remember that they are duty-bound to continue operating so peace and order won’t be a casualty,” he added.On July 27, a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Abra, which resulted in a massive damage to infrastructure in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions.The earthquake was felt as far as Metro Manila and Central Luzon.Over 82,000 families, which consists of more than 314,000 individuals, were affected by the effects of the tremor in 996 barangays.Some of them remain in the evacuation centers.A day after the major earthquake, Pampanga police in Central Luzon conducted a buy-bust operation that hauled more than P400 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested a key drug player.Danao said that “this is what he exactly means.”“I laud our operatives for showing the public that we are still on top of the situation despite the limitations brought by the aftermath of the earthquake,” he said.Danao, at the same time, vowed to check on the condition of the directly affected personnel.“They will undergo necessary debriefing so they can work productively without any reservations. We also consider the welfare of our personnel,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)