The Philippine National Police on Tuesday beefed up visibility and established several outposts in flood-stricken areas following reports of looting in abandoned houses especially in Provident Village in Marikina and other subdivisions in Pasig and Cainta, Rizal.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said he had directed the National Capital Region Police Office and local police units in the affected areas to conduct 24-hour patrols in residential areas in order to deny robbers the opportunity for their illegal activities.

“I have directed the deployment of all available personnel and force multipliers of NCRPO for round-the-clock security and crime prevention,” said Verzosa.

This developed as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando took full responsibility for the massive flooding that devastated Metro Manila and suburbs over the weekend.

"I am ready to take the blame," Fernando said as condemnation from various sectors intensified over the government’s poor handling of the disaster.

Fernando heads the agency tasked to address the flooding in the metropolis, and boasted a few months ago that flooding in the national capital region had been solved by the MMDA.

Residents of Marikina, Pasig and Cainta were either evacuated or have decided to flee their homes after they were trapped in heavy flooding that swept Metro Manila and nearby provinces beginning Saturday, leaving their homes unguarded against looters.

On Tuesday morning, 20 personnel from the NCRPO-Regional Mobile Group and another 16 policemen from the Marikina Police were deployed to Provident Village to secure the subdivision.

“We will also set up outposts and deploy more personnel in other affected areas. They are likewise instructed to conduct 24-hour patrol to secure these areas from looters,” Verzosa said.

The PNP chief said he also directed police commanders to tap the services of barangay volunteer watchmen for the job. He said cadets from the PNP Academy will also be tapped to augment regular police forces.

Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said officials led by Verzosa will conduct inspections on temporary outposts to give additional instructions and provide necessary equipment against looting as well as receive complaints.

“The complaints will serve as basis for follow-up operations and security adjustments in securing the houses in the flooded areas,” said Espina.

Espina said the outposts will remain until affected residents have returned to their homes and the situation normalizes.

The eastern part of Metro Manila and Rizal were hardest hit by typhoon Ondoy, including Fernando’s hometown Marikina City, Pasig City, and the Rizal towns of Cainta, San Mateo, and Montalban.

Fernando said flood control infrastructures in Marikina City were built 40 years ago and were already outdated. He served as city mayor for three terms before he was succeeded by his wife, the current mayor.

Four barangays in the city – Calumpang, Industrial Valley, Tanong and Barangka – remain submerged in flood waters.

Fernando pointed out that the constriction of three creeks emptying into the Marikina River contributed to the sudden rise in floodwaters in the city on Saturday.

Many residents suffered up to more than five-foot water levels, prompting residents to move their appliances and furniture to second floor level of their houses.