134 more policemen contract coronavirus

FILE: CHECKPOINT. A police personnel checks on a woman’s quarantine pass at the Cloverleaf Market in Balintawak, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 15, 2020).  (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that 134 more police officers contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases among its ranks to 1,223.

As of Monday evening, the PNP Health Service said out of the new cases, 130 are from the Police Regional Office in Calabarzon (PRO-4A), and four from the National Capital Region Police Office.

A total of 501 personnel have recovered from the disease while the death toll stands at nine.

The PNP Health Service is also monitoring 666 probable cases and 1,431 suspected cases.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said the infected cops came from those who are manning quarantine checkpoints. He said while the figures continue to increase, the police force would never run out of personnel.

“Losing kunwari 1,000 personnel because they are infected and under quarantine, PNP now is 209,000 so it’s practically a very small portion. So no problem. Marami kami (there are many personnel) and then there’s always rotation. Dito sa Crame marami pang pulis dito (Here at Crame, there are many police officers),” Gamboa told reporters in a press briefing on Monday.

If a cop tests positive, he/she will observe a 14-day quarantine and undergo another test. Once cleared, they have to rest for seven to 10 more days before going back to duty.

“Kapag naubusan (once we ran out) we will deploy and we can afford to redeploy our PNP personnel at saka sabi ko nga, by reason of testing and quarantine hindi naman ganun katagal (it’s not that long),” said Gamboa.