4 NCRPO personnel, two arriving from Japan, under self quarantine

March 10, 2020

Four personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were ordered to undergo self-quarantine, according to Police Major General Debold Sinas Tuesday.

In a press briefing, the NCRPO chief said two non-uniformed personnel, one police staff sergeant and one police lieutenant colonel are under self-quarantine.

“We have four persons under monitoring (PUM)… we directed them to go self-quarantine. Their status is being monitored by the regional health officer and they all comply,” Sinas said.

Sinas said the two non-uniformed personnel travelled to Japan last March 4 and came back last March 9 while the wife of the police lieutenant colonel just came back from Japan last March 5.

The police staff sergeant frequently attends the prayer room in Greenhills, San Juan, where the first confirmed local transmission was recorded.

“As of now, according to the (regional health officer) they are okay,” Sinas said.

He added the police lieutenant colonel was diagnosed with tonsillitis after it was rumored that he was tested positive of the virus.

“It was his wife who went to Japan. He did not go abroad but he felt that his temperature rise that’s why he go to the hospital in Camp Crame but… pardon my word, I think our doctors panicked and sent him to a hospital in Tala, Caloocan City.… we already talked to him and he is now under monitoring,” Sinas said.

Sinas said the wife of the cop is also a police officer assigned in Camp Crame. That’s why, they are staying inside the national headquarters.

“The news which spread on social media is not true… however, we don’t have an update on his wife,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sinas said they are monitoring the police staff sergeant who is assigned in Police Community Precinct in Greenhills.

“We are still finding out if he goes to the prayer room with the positive patient… the time frame, February 25 to March 5, He confirmed that he went to the prayer room… Our health service is focused on him so that if symptoms will show, we are ready to conduct contact tracing… We need the entire PCP,” Sinas said.

“He is also one of the responders during the hostage taking,” he added.

For those who responded during the Greenhills hostage crisis, the policemen were all directed to not go home until after the 14-day quarantine period, including Sinas, who went inside the mall during the incident.

If found positive, those who have contacted the four personnel will be asked not to go home. 

“We are also recommending the (PNP) Health Service to create a quarantine area to protect our people… if there is none, we are looking for areas and also coordinating with the three government hospitals just in case,” Sinas said.

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rise, Sinas said they prepared an action plan for their personnel, especially those who will be the first responders.

Sinas clarified the Department of Health said they can still handle the contact tracing and will just ask police for help if needed. Ella Dionisio/DMS