103 policemen on home quarantine

CEBU, Philippines — At least 103 police personnel in Central Visayas are considered persons under monitoring (PUM) for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and were placed under home quarantine for the next 14 days.

The number has increased from the previous 42 announced by the Police Regional Office-7.

Police Col. Relie Canlas, director of the PNP Regional Health Services in Central Visayas, said some of them are exhibiting influenza-like illness.

“Yung iba merong sipon at ubo pero hindi naman siya COVID-related symptoms,” Canlas said.

Canlas said they were already given vitamins to help them boost their immune system while undergoing quarantine. Canlas said those who are exhibiting symptoms of flu will be tested for COVID-19 if they continue to have it after 14 days.

The police official, however, assured that none of the police personnel in the region have tested positive for the dreaded virus.

PRO-7 director Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro said those who are undergoing quarantine will be exempted from the deployment at the health checkpoints. Police personnel are among the frontliners in the implementation of curfew amid the general community quarantine declaration made by Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Ferro said at least 700 personnel from the quick response battalion are ready for deployment anytime to respond to any eventuality.

 Meanwhile, the PRO-7 has implemented another precautionary measure at the police headquarters. Canlas said they have provided rugs with chlorine solution in all the offices at the regional police headquarters as a way of disinfecting people coming inside.

“Lahat ng papasok, they have to step on the foot bath or the rug with chlorine solution as precautionary measure to combat COVID-19,” Canlas said.  FPL (FREEMAN)