55 cops on frontline duty catch novel coronavirus

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame reported on Wednesday that 55 police personnel have already been infected by the novel coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).

The increase in number of virusaffected policemen spiked after PNP Health Service Director Brig. Gen. Herminio Tadeo Jr. reported that an additional five policemen have been found positive for the virus.

The new cases are PNP patient-51, a 43-year-old policeman from Laguna; PNP patient-52, a 36-yearold policeman from Laguna; PNP patient-53, a 29-year-old policeman from Muntinlupa City; PNP patient-54, a 29-year-old policeman from Taguig City; and PNP patient-55, a 50-year-old male from Bulacan province.

Tadeo emphasized that close monitoring is being observed for 105 PNP personnel who are now considered as probable persons under investigation (probable PUIS), which includes 20 police commissioned officers, 84 police non-commissioned officers and one non-uniformed personnel.

In addition, a total 456 personnel were recommended as suspected persons under investigation (suspected PUIS) composed of 99 police commissioned officers, 320 police non-commissioned officers, and 37 non-uniformed personnel.

The PNP Health Service reported that eight policemen have recovered from the novel coronavirus.

The PNP also reported that its Anti-cyber Crime Group (ACG) has arrested 49 suspected purveyors of fake news and other online scammers.

From March 9 to April 13, the ACG has recorded 24 cases filed against spreaders of fake news and unverified information on social media with 47 personalities arrested along with two online scammers who figured in a face mask scam scheme.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac clarified that the “rumors” on the standardization of salary pension of policemen which spread through chat groups and text messages remain as rumors.