PNP says two personnel negative for COVID-19

March 27, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday clarified that two of their personnel were tested negative for the COVID-19 virus.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac denied news reports of the earlier death of two PNP personnel purportedly due to COVID-19 infection.

“Both Police Staff Sergeant Roderick Taca of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Police Staff Sergeant Feliciana Malana of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) tested negative for COVID-19 infection and their deaths were caused by other medical conditions,” the PNP spokesman said.

Based on their data, as of March 26, the PNP Health Service is monitoring the condition of 76 PNP personnel considered as Persons under Investigation (PUI), and another 905 police personnel listed as Persons under Monitoring (PUM) to determine further actions according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“PNP doctors are also closely monitoring the condition of two active duty PNP personnel who recently tested positive for COVID-19 infection,” Banac added.

In a report last Thursday, Banac clarified that the personnel assigned at the PNP Chaplain Service is just a person under investigation (PUI) which means the subject is exhibiting symptoms of the illness.

As part of their preventive measure to prevent spread of COVID-19, a walk-thru decontamination station has been placed in Camp Crame to disinfect all persons entering the PNP headquarters.

Banac said this makeshift decontamination procedure is part of the PNP-wide Biosafety Plan recommended by its health service being observed in Camp Crame and all camps.

All vehicles entering Camp Crame will pass thru a tire bath and its occupants are required to alight and walk thru a disinfectant misting tent and undergo body temperature scan.

Also part of the Biosafety Plan is the proper disposal of bio-hazardous waste materials such as discarded PPE, face mask, gloves being implemented by the Headquarters Support Service. Ella Dionisio/DMS