ILOILO City – There is no truth to social media claims that a policeman tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“That is fake news,” declared Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, regional police information officer.
Malong, however, confirmed that during the first week of March, 110 policemen were classified as persons under monitoring (PUMs) and one as a person under investigation (PUI) for possible COVID-19 infection.
All of them underwent quarantine, said Malong, and this week the PRO-6 had no more PUI.
As for the PUMs, Malong said only 57 remained classified as such and still in quarantine while waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests; the rest were cleared after testing negative for the viral illness.
All these policemen were classified as PUMs or PUI for having traveled to Manila for official transactions, explained Malong.
“It’s automatic. Personnel who have travelled to Manila should undergo quarantine,” she clarified.
She assured the public that the PRO-6 would always be transparent about the health of policemen vis-à-vis the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Indi man namon pwede matago ang situation sang amon tawo kun may mag-positive sa COVID-19 kay sila gid ang exposed sa field, especially sa checkpoints and borders,” said Malong.
All PRO-6 personnel manning checkpoints have been advised to be careful and protect themselves from the virus, she stressed.
“Our personnel observe proper protection. They are frontliners. We don’t want them to get infected. We thus appeal to the public to follow what the government tells them to do. We must help one another contain the virus so that our policemen can go back to their work,” said Malong.
All provinces, towns and cities in Western Visayas are on an enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19./PN
