PNP not blaming OCD on death of police captain

June 9, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday clarified that they are not blaming the Office of Civil Defense over the death of a police doctor who inhaled a  chemical while undergoing disinfection in a quarantine facility in Pasig City.

“The Chief PNP (General Archie Francisco Gamboa) wishes to clarify that the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is neither blamed nor pointed to as the source of the concentrated disinfectant solution used by medical and healthcare personnel at the Philsports Arena Temporary Treatment and  Monitoring facility (PSA-TTMF),”said Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, in a statement.

Banac said Gamboa is suggesting that OCD should be asked to assist in the  investigation.

“It was suggested that the OCD be asked to assist in the determination of the chemicals’ source given that it was OCD that accredited the service providers in the quarantine facilities operated by the PNP,” Banac said.

The PNP earlier said the chemical disinfectant used in another PNP-managed quarantine facility at the PICC is hypoallergenic and biodegradable, and that the PSA-TTMF and PICC have different service providers.

On Monday, Gamboa said the National Bureau of Investigation should also include the OCD and the quarantine facility’s service provider on their investigation on the death of Police Captain Casey Guttierez.

The PNP chief said it is the OCD who has the power to procure for the said facility.

But in a statement, OCD said they are not the ones who  provide decontamination chemicals for any COVID-19 facility.

"The only services that were arranged by OCD are: food catering, lodging for servicing personnel, provision of PPEs, hygiene kits, medical equipment and supplies,  janitorial services and waste collection and disposal," he said.

"OCD is not involved in the actual management and operation of any COVID-19 facility except from the distribution of the said items," he said.

Timbal said the OCD welcomes any investigation regarding the death of the PNP doctor. Ella Dionisio/DMS