PNP exempts select personnel on Covid – 19 duty

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) directed all regional commands to exempt some personnel from joining checkpoints where close contacts to persons who may be infected by coronavirus disease (Covid – 19).

Based on the directive dated March 20, 202 coming from technical director chief for Administration (TDCA) of the PNP, some personnel should be excluded in the deployment and to be assigned as part of the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) as there may be greater risk of developing severe to critical illness if infected with Covid 19.

Exempted are 50 – years - old and above, those already suffering diseases, pregnant women, and those with medical related courses.

It further instructs personnel with medical related courses to be organized as health workers to check conditions of deployed personnel and Quick Reaction Teams in their respective units.

The Police Regional Office – Cordillera (PRO – COR) established its disinfection facility for all police personnel coming from their area of deployment.

PRO- COR also placed its regional health facility at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet on red alert status for immediate health procedures to be applied to members of the police force if needed.

Police Brigadier General R’win Pagkalinawan, PRO – COR regional director earlier explained these health measures implemented by the regional command is done to ensure the health safety of all police personnel particularly during these times.

“If we would not be able to protect the health of our police personnel who are part of the front lines, then who would protect us and the public from the spread of this dreaded corona virus. It is why we have to ensure their health safety not only now but at all times,” Pagkalinawan

said.

At the Baguio City Police Office(BCPO), majority of its 700 strong personnel are now on a 36 hour duty deployment with an eight hour on-call rest period, aside from skeletal forces manning the different departments of BCPO.