PNP personnel positive for COVID-19 now 22

April 7, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said three more  personnel tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) bringing the total number of infected persons to 22.

The new cases were male, two aged 44 years old and one 34. They are assigned in Metro Manila.

“As I said, we are not robots. We will have infected (personnel),” PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said in a radio interview.

Gamboa said they reported earlier that two police personnel recovered from the virus while two died.

The PNP chief said they have enough reserve forces in the national headquarters in Camp Crame but no region is asking for augmentation as of the moment.

Gamboa said he informed President Rodrigo Duterte about their current situation.

“I assured him when all of this started all the regional offices have their own PUI (persons under investigation) and PUM (persons under monitoring) quarantine facilities… we have identified all throughout the country,” he said.

Gamboa added they have a medical team who will take care of those who are infected and need attention.

The PNP Health Service recorded a total of 57 PNP personnel who are categorized as probable Persons Under Investigation (Probable PUIs). They are broken down into  seven Police Commissioned Officers (PCO) and 50 Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO).

A  total of 242 are suspected Persons Under Investigation (Suspected PUIs), broken down into  61 PCO, 167 PNCO, and 14 Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP).

According to PNP, a person is considered as Probable PUI if he has mild, severe or critical condition with inconclusive, inadequate or no available testing.  A suspected PUI has mild, severe or critical condition and has not been tested and for testing.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,384 PNP personnel are listed as possible case of Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) composed of 322 PCO, 1,007 PNCO, and 55 NUP.

The  PNP COVID-19 Patient Care Center has admitted 40 PNP personnel listed as PUIs and who undergo self-quarantine. They are broken down into  11 PCO, 17 PNCO, 5 NUP, and seven civilians.

In a separate statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said despite the increase in the number of police personnel positive for COVID-19 and also PUMs and PUIs, the PNP is prepared to continue carrying out their duties.

“The PNP is correct in saying that with the extension of the quarantine, stricter security measures will be carried out as we are in the most important stretch of our efforts to contain this virus. Our police force is ready for this,” he said.

On Tuesday. Duterte extended the ongoing enhanced community quarantine for two more weeks up to April 30. Ella Dionisio/DMS