Two cops die from COVID-19: PNP

April 3, 2020

The Philippine National Police on Friday confirmed that two personnel died due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the fatalities were a 46 -year -old policeman,listed as PNP-13, in Laguna and a 48-year-old policeman, tagged PNP-8, in Metro Manila.

Banac said they died due to cardiac arrest and high fever.

“PNP-13 was listed as Person Under Monitoring and died last March 27 due to cardiac arrest. A post -mortem examination was done and a week after his swab test, the result was released that he was positive of COVID-19,” Banac said.

“PNP-8 died yesterday, April 2. While on duty last March 19, the patient experienced high fever and immediately admitted to nearby hospital. He was then tested positive of the virus,” he added.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa extends his condolences to the bereaved families of police personnel and assures them of full financial support and social benefits.

In a radio interview, Gamboa said most of the persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) are asymptomatic.

Aside from personal protective equipment (PPEs), Gamboa said to protect their personnel from the virus, cops aged 46 and up were not being deployed.

“We discourage deployment of personnel who are at least 46 (or) 47 years old and up… We are not deploying them… we encourage 45 below,” he said.

“These are sad stories on the part of PNP but nevertheless we have to do our duty on running the risk of being infected,” he said.

Gamboa assured that police personnel, especially those manning at checkpoints were provided with vitamins and PPEs.

“We give our policemen our personal protective equipment and to further protect them, we gave them vitamins and fixing their shifting so that they will still have time to rest,” Gamboa said.

Based on the data of Health Service, thirteen personnel tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 209 personnel are Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) while 1,600 personnel are listed as Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs).

Moreover, the Kiangan Billeting Center has already admitted nine PNP personnel listed as PUIs and who undergo self-quarantine.

Biosafety protocols such as decontamination and provision of minimum Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all PNP health workers in the building is strictly implemented. Ella Dionisio/DMS