CEBU CITY—Praises and expressions of gratitude poured in for the more than 100 policemen from Regions 6 and 8, who were sent here to help enforce community quarantine protocols.
The 54 policemen from Eastern Visayas and 53 personnel from Western Visayas were recognized as they ended their more than two-month of stint in the city.
“I consider you as our modern day heroes as we celebrate National Heroes’ Day. You will be proud to tell your children that you made our life in Cebu City better,” said City mayor Edgardo Labella in Monday’s send-off ceremony for the policemen at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The augmentation teams from Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas arrived in the city last June 18. At the time of their arrival, the city was considered as the country’s epicenter of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic due to the high number of cases.
PRO 7 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro said the augmentation team played a critical role in the lowering of COVID-19 cases in the city.
“Your journey in Cebu has come full circle. Now it is time to go home and go back to your respective units. It is with gratitude that I thank all of you for your help and service to PRO 7 and the people of Cebu,” said Ferro.
“You Waraynons and Illongos have contributed a lot to protecting your fellow Visayan community, your fellow Filipino in Central Visayas. Today, we are celebrating National Heroes day and you are re our modern day heroes,” added Ferro.
Ferro disclosed that some of the policemen will have to stay behind after they got infected with COVID-19.
For the Region 6 contingent, two policemen tested positive for COVID-19, while seven others were tagged as close contacts.
A policeman from Region 8 and his three close contacts will also stay behind.
Those who had close contact with COVID-19 positives were still awaiting the results of their swab tests.
The returning policemen were made to undergo COVID-19 testing to prevent the possible spread of virus once they arrive in their destinations.
“Those who will be left behind are in our isolation facility. We will take care of them and help them recover,” said Ferro.
Ferro said it was high time for the augmentation team to return to their mother units as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Regions 6 and 8.
Ferro said that if necessary, the PRO 7 will be sending its own augmentation team to the two regions.
“If they will request, then we will send our personnel there,” said Ferro.
For now, Ferro said, the PRO 7 will be sending a contact tracing to help their counterparts in Region 6 and 8.