By Aaron Recuenco
Two policemen who earlier tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered, but the number of cops infected and being monitored for possible infection continues to rise.
Gen. Archie Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that three more policemen have tested positive for COVID-19—two 44-year-old males and a 34-year-old male, who are all assigned in Metro Manila.
This brings the total number of policemen infected by the COVID-19 to 22. Two of them have already died due to complications.
Gamboa said that the PNP Health Service also reported a total of 299 policemen classified as persons under investigation (PUIs).
On the other hand, a total of 1,384 PNP personnel have been listed as possible cases of persons under monitoring (PUMs). These include 322 commissioned officers, 1,007 non-commissioned officers, and 55 non-uniformed personnel.
Gamboa said some of those who are being monitored have already been admitted to what he calls the PNP’s COVID-19 Patient Care Center at the Kiangan Billeting Center of Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Others have also been sent to other police quarantine sites.
Despite the growing number of policemen being monitored, Gamboa assured the public that the PNP has enough manpower to assist the government in implementing home quarantine rules.
He said protective gears have already been sent to the frontlines, while rotation is being implemented to give policemen at the frontlines enough time to rest.