COVID-FREE NO MORE | ICPO: Stay home if possible

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 lost its COVID-free status in the last three months after two police officers tested positive for the disease.

In a press statement, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) said two of the six new COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas (as of June 16) are officers assigned to Mandurriao district.

WV Patient No.149 is a 32-year-old male who has been staying in La Paz district. He was assigned to secure the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao.

WVMC is the referral hospital for COVID cases and hosts the subnational laboratory for COVID testing.

WV Patient No.151 is a 23-year-old officer who hails from Lambunao, Iloilo. He rendered duty in one of the hotels used as a billeting area for repatriated overseas Filipino workers.

“Upon receipt of the information, we immediately contacted the Iloilo City Health Office for the conduct of contract tracing and isolation of our two personnel, as well as other persons who had direct contact with them,” according to Colonel Eric Dampal, Iloilo City police chief.

Dampal said coordination and management were done to ensure that appropriate protocol or guidelines are observed.

Citing reports from the Department of Health, Dampal said the two police personnel are asymptomatic and are now quarantined in a facility.

“We assure the public that we are strictly adhering to the strict observance of all the minimum health standards and protocol while in the actual performance of our sworn duties and responsibilities, especially during this pandemic,” Dampal said.

He added that the safety of their personnel and the rest of the Ilonggos remains their top priority.

“This is quite unfortunate, but this is part and parcel of the risk of being a police officer. Still, we remain committed to serve and protect the public,” he said.

Dampal said they appeal to the public to stay home if possible.

“Our fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Let us not lower our guards down. Collectively, we continue to ask for divine healing and intervention,” he said.

The two police officers were part of the batch who underwent mass testing by the Iloilo City government on June 8.

Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said 77 cops underwent swab tests in that batch.

On June 9, ten PRO-6 officers billeted at the Jubilee Hall also underwent rapid and swab tests. The results have yet to be released.

On June 16, Sangrines said rapid and PCR tests were conducted on seven officers who were recently assigned to ICPO.

On Wednesday, COVID-19 mass testing was conducted at Mandurriao gym for PNP personnel, market vendors, and (Local Economic Enterprise Office) LEEO staff, sikad drivers, tricycle drivers, and SAP personnel assigned to Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Last May 29, PRO-6 announced that the region’s police force was still virus-free after 78 frontline police officers tested negative for COVID-19

The said batch was on top of the 325 police officers initially tested in the different city and provincial police offices.