Unvaccinated Filipino cops to be relegated to desk duty

MANILA: Policemen who have yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19 will be relegated to administrative work to protect them against the threat of being infected, particularly the Omicron variant.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Dionardo Carlos said the “no jab, no duty” policy would be enforced as soon as a set of guidelines were put in place, the Philstar.com portal reported.

Data from the PNP Health Service showed that 212,080, or 93.98 per cent, of those in the police force have been fully vaccinated.

About 900 police personnel, however, had yet to get the jabs without “reasonable excuses for their continued refusal to get vaccinated”, Carlos said.

“In the coming days, we are coming up with a memorandum circular to implement the policy among PNP personnel,” Carlos said at a press briefing on Monday.

“As officers of the law, it is our responsibility to uphold public welfare at all times and lead by example in fulfilling the citizen’s duty to promote people’s health and safety,” he said.

He stressed, however, that being unvaccinated was no reason for officers not to report to work and that the PNP would not enforce a “no vaccine, no entry” at police camps, stations and offices.

“We will not allow that.

“We will make sure that they are contributing to the mission and functions of the PNP,” Carlos said.

PNP said 859 police personnel remained unvaccinated due to valid reasons, such as allergic reactions and underlying medical conditions.

Carlos said the unvaccinated officers who were medically cleared to get Covid-19 jabs would not be deployed for police work on the ground.

“Instead, they will be given desk work. They are still on duty status. We want to make sure that they will not be exposed to the virus,” he said, adding that the PNP would continue to urge unvaccinated officers to get Covid19 jabs.