NCRPO says Manila cop who died Saturday of pneumonia positive for COVID-19

March 18, 2020

The chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) confirmed that the policeman who died last Saturday was tested positive  for the 2019 coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

In a press briefing in Quezon City Tuesday afternoon, Police Major General Debold Sinas said the police officer was assigned at Manila Police District- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“The result was already released and accordingly, the CIDG ( policeman) who died was positive for COVID-19,” Sinas said.

“We are now after all the people who had contact with him… The IATF (interagency task force) already advised us to conduct the tracing so that we can monitor if anyone got infected,” he added.

Last Sunday, NCRPO said as precautionary measure of the MPD Health Service, they directed all Manila- CIDG personnel to confine themselves at their office for quarantine.

“Therefore, all the CIDG personnel assigned in NCR will now become PUM (persons under monitoring) to PUI (persons under investigation). They will be strictly monitored and supervised by our health service personnel,” Sinas said.

The NCRPO chief said CIDG assigned in MPD  are 10 police personnel while 15 police personnel were assigned in the headquarters.

“(Aside from police personnel) the family, classmates of the cop will also be traced. Tracing is just we will check their condition. Now, it’s easier now since they are staying at home,” Sinas said.

Sinas said the MPD already disinfected their offices and stations gave all police personnel proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

According to NCRPO, the police officer, who also has diabetes,  experienced severe coughing three months ago but did not seek medical attention.

The victim and his wife were first brought to a hospital last March 5 for medical checkup and went home to General Trias City, Cavite.

On March 7, the policeman was brought to a hospital in Cavite for fever and viral infection where he was treated as an outpatient.

He was again taken to a hospital in Pasay City last March 9 for tonsillitis and possible pneumonia where he was confined until his death.

NCRPO said his corpse is still at the hospital and scheduled for cremation on Friday, March 20. Ella Dionisio/DMS