By Gabriela Baron
The family of a police officer identified only as 'Anthony' who succumbed to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) learned about his death when it was announced in a news conference of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
"Nagulat kami lumabas ang result kahapon through presscon na wala kaming information. Supposedly, dapat ang protocol family muna ang makakaalam," one of Anthony's children told GMA's 24 Oras.
(We were surprised to find out the result yesterday through the presscon. We really had no idea. Supposedly, the protocol is the family should be the first to know.)
Anthony had been in the police service for 23 years.
"Sana in-inform nila kami. Ginalang sana ang privacy namin. Ngayon, parang pinandirian kami ng aming mga kakilala (They should have let us know first. They should have respected our privacy. Now a lot of our acquaintances seem to be avoiding us)," another family member said.
Anthony's son said the family had a sense of calm when he told them that he tested negative for COVID-19. The son said his dad only told them he had pneumonia and that a nurse was attending to him.
"Nagulat kami nung Saturday, nire-revive na raw sya (We were surprised when we learned that he was being revived last Saturday)," he added.
The family said they did not know where the patient acquired the virus.