53 WV cops deployed to virus-hit Cebu City

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Fifty-three uniformed personnel of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) will sail to COVID-hit Central Visayas to augment the latter’s police force.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson, said a send-off ceremony was held Thursday at the PRO-6 parade ground at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

The contingent will be headed by Police Major Antonio Benitez and two other police officers.

The remaining 50 police officers are rookies who just finished the Basic Internal Security Operation Course (BISOC).

The PRO-6 Regional Health Services was tasked to ensure that all personnel have undergone requisite health checks prior to departure from Iloilo City.

Brigadier General Albert Ferro, Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, earlier said they are expecting additional troops to be deployed to Cebu City.

In a press statement, the Philippine National Police said it is fielding 100 police officers to Central Visayas to support the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the region, particularly in Metro Cebu where a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases was recorded recently by the Department of Health (DOH).

PNP chief General Archie Gamboa directed the Police Regional Offices in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas to send 50 personnel each to Cebu City upon recommendation of PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and concurrent Joint Task Force COVID-19 Commander, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar.

Eleazar made the recommendation after the national government re-imposed the ECQ in Cebu City on June 15 due to rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The Cebu City Police Office has around 2,000 police officers.

As of Tuesday evening, the Cebu City Health Office said the city logged 203 new COVID cases, bringing the total cases to 3,814, including 1,851 active cases.

The city also registered 41 COVID-19-related deaths and 1,924 recoveries.