Cop tests positive for COVID, 37 others under quarantine

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Thirty-seven policemen of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), including Police Colonel Henry Biñas, BCPO director, are currently on quarantine after a personnel from Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 that augmented the city police force tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Biñas said 37 of them underwent swab tests and started their quarantine last week after their exposure to the COVID patient.

The administrative office and the Bacolod City Mobile Patrol Unit at the BCPOD headquarters, which the patient last visited, were also temporarily on lockdown, he added.

Biñas said the infected policeman personally asked permission from him to go home two weeks ago to prepare for his wedding in Anilao, Iloilo.

His swab test result came out Aug 3, indicating that he was positive for the virus, Biñas said.

The patient, who is asymptomatic, is currently in a quarantine facility in Anilao town.

Biñas said the policeman is not an organic member of the BCPO but part of the augmentation personnel from the regional office, who was waiting for their Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) training.

The BCPO director added that nobody felt ill in the past days while they were on quarantine.

“We will wait for the results of the swab test so that we can all go back to work,” he added.

Meanwhile, Biñas said individuals with transactions at the BCPO headquarters can still enter the vicinity, provided they adhere to the health protocols.

Despite the recent case, Biñas said that the more than 600 organic members of the city police force remain COVID-free.