Calasiao police station closed for disinfection as cop chief, 29 other persons contract COVID
By AHIKAM PASION
DAGUPAN CITY – The Calasiao police station in Pangasinan is still closed for further disinfection after its police chief, 28 other policemen, and one person under PNP custody (PUPC) tested positive for COVID-19.

A message from Police Lt. Col. Ferdinand de Asis, chief of police here, confirmed the situation.
“COVID is real," he said in his message.
De Asis said there were 20 policemen assigned to the station, including him, plus nine field training personnel (FTP), and one PUPC who tested positive.
They were swabbed six days earlier on March 25 and the results, said De Asis, arrived on March 31.
Despite all of them testing positive, De Asis confirmed they were all asymptomatic. They are all lodged in a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).
As a result, the municipal government of Calasiao, under Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon, ordered the temporary closure of the Calasiao police station for disinfection.
“The local PNP will be setting up receiving areas for operational services outside of the PNP station following strict observance of the minimum public health standards," said Bauzon in Memorandum Order No. 263.
Despite many policemen testing positive for COVID-19, De Asis assured monitoring for the Holy Week will remain strict.
Augmentation forces have been filled in to address the 55 remaining healthy policemen and non-uniform personnel (NUP) manning the local police.
De Asis assured police operations and efforts will continue in keeping the town safe and orderly despite the undermanned police force.