By Aaron Recuenco
The number of police officers infected by COVID-19 has jumped to 55, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday.
PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa said the recent cases involved five policemen from Metro Manila, Laguna and Bulacan whose test and confirmatory tests were completed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
“They are now being taken care of. As I have stated, we will ensure the protection of our personnel by providing them with essential protective gears. Once infected, we also assure that we will provide the best medical attention for them,” said Gamboa.
A total of three policemen have succumbed to COVID-19 while eight have fully recovered from the disease.
Police Brig. Gen. Herminio Tadeo, director of the PNP Health Service, said they are closely monitoring 105 PNP personnel who are now considered as probable persons under investigation, including 20 police commissioned officers, 84 police non-commissioned officers and one non-uniformed personnel.
He said a total 456 personnel were recommended as suspected persons under investigation composed of 99 police commissioned officers, 320 police non-commissioned officers, and 37 non-uniformed personnel.
On its second week of operations, the PNP COVID-19 Patient Care Center (Kiangan Billeting Center) at Camp Crame in Quezon City has already admitted 20 PNP personnel listed as PUI and who are undergoing self-quarantine.