The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila has been placed on lockdown this week to undergo sanitation and disinfection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday confirmed that the NBI has been placed on lockdown this week by NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor.
Guevarra said the NBI went on lockdown “for disinfection till the weekend.”
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the NBI has been on lockdown since Wednesday, July 22, until Sunday, July 26.
“They will disinfect the premises. But per Ed Distor, enforcement operations will continue,” he said.
“Based on the communication sent to us, the disinfection is a preventive measure,” he added.
Distor assured that the lockdown will be lifted and the NBI will resume normal operations starting Monday, July 27.
Guevarra on Thursday disclosed that two Department of Justice (DOJ) technical staff tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at the Philippine General Hospital.
“They were immediately isolated and their office locked down last Tuesday,” Guevarra said.
He said “the premises of the technical staff were disinfected and will be disinfected again this weekend.”
“Those who were in contact with them were advised to undergo immediate testing,” he added.