Ano assures cops, military who get sick during duty of gov’t assistance

March 25, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano on Wednesday assured police and military personnel who will get sick due to work during the enhanced community quarantine  will receive assistance from the government.

In a press briefing, Ano said the government has a comprehensive social benefit program for men in uniform.

“We will provide them with assistance in line of their duty… if they get sick due to work, that is in line of their duty and we will give all the assistance we can give to them,” he said.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), around 615 police personnel, including a colonel and a patrolman, are Persons under Monitoring (PUM) and 45 more personnel are Persons under Investigation (PUI) due to COVID-19.

A member of the PNP Chaplain Service and Manila Police District were tested positive for COVID-19.

PNP said contract tracing is ongoing and they are now taking more stringent actions to prevent the spread of the virus among their police personnel, especially those assigned to frontline duties in quarantine control points.

Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa assured all personnel, the National Headquarters will always provide as much as it demands from the officers and rank-and-file men.

“Be assured that I’m doing everything in my power to provide you with all necessary support and resources to ensure your health and safety as you do your job in the best way possible. I expect all leaders at all levels to do the same for all personnel under their command,” Gamboa said. Ella Dionisio/DMS