Seven PNP personnel positive for COVID-19

March 31, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said four more seven personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) bringing the total to seven.

Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said the new cases were a 53-year-old male, a 52-year-old male, a 47-year-old female, and a 46-year-old male all assigned in Metro Manila.

“As of March 30, 2020, the PNP recorded four more police personnel who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of police personnel infected to seven,” Banc said.

Based on the latest data from the PNP Health Service, a total of 145 PNP personnel are recommended as Persons under Investigation (PUI) while 1,416 PNP personnel are listed as Persons under Monitoring (PUM).

Of the 145 PUIs, twenty-five were police commissioned officers (PCO), 114 were police non-commissioned officers (PNCO) and five non-uniform personnels (NUP).

Out of the 1, 416 PUMs, 268 were PCO, 1,086 PNCO and 62 NUP.

With the increase in police personnel under PUMs and PUIs, Banac said PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa directed the Kiangan Billeting Center (KBC)in Camp Crame to be open for all police personnel recommended to undergo self-quarantine upon the recommendation by frontline workers of PNP Health Service.

The KBC offers 43 rooms with free board and lodging, free breakfast, lunch and dinner; and also other free services such as Wi-fi connection.

“This initiative is still part of the organization’s Biosafety Plan, helping our PUIs and PUMs personnel to have a place where they can stay without worrying about the rent fee and their meal while in quarantine,” he said.

Banac said the NHQ Medical Reserve Force (MRF) was created to support the COVID-19 Operations Task Force.

“The MRF consists of PNP uniformed personnel with medical related courses. As of today, a total of 257 police personnel will augment to support the PNP Health Service as well as the General Hospital,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS