Manila, March 3 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) will mobilize all its available assets to provide immediate relief and security to communities affected by the recent activities of Kanlaon Volcano.

"I have directed the activation of our hazard response teams to ensure the safety of our kababayans amid the continuing activity of Kanlaon Volcano," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.

Nartatez issued the directive after state volcanologists recorded five volcanic earthquakes and a staggering emission of 2,880 tons of sulfur dioxide on Saturday alone.

The resulting ashfall blanketed more than 133 villages across the Negros Island Region (NIR).

The volcano remains under Alert Level 2 as of Tuesday....