By Aaron Recuenco  Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), clarified on Tuesday that the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is neither blamed nor pointed to as the source of the toxic chemicals that may have killed a police doctor at the PhilSports Arena Temporary Treatment and Monitoring facility. PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
(NCRPO PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) In a statement, Gamboa said that he was just suggesting that the OCD should also cooperate in the investigation in order to determine the source of the chemicals which were used as decontamination solution for personnel manning the PhilSports Arena (formerly ULTRA) quarantine facility. “In the interest of a thorough investigation, it was suggested that the OCD be asked to assist in the determination of the chemicals’ source given that it was OCD that accredited the service providers in the quarantine facilities operated by the PNP,” said Gamboa. In a press briefing on Monday, Gamboa said that it is the OCD which manages the operations at the PhilSports Arena. This came as a reaction to a question regarding the death of Capt. Casey Gutierrez, a doctor who was assigned to the quarantine facility. Gutierrez complained of difficulty in breathing while undergoing decontamination protocol at the PhilSports Arena on March 24. He was taken to the PNP General Hospital and later to the Lung Center of the Philippines where he died on March 30. Gutierrez’s two police companions were also hospitalized. Two more cops were also hospitalized after reportedly undertaking decontamination procedure on June 1 in the same facility. But OCD spokesman Mark Timbal denied that the OCD provided any decontamination chemical at the PhilSports Arena. Timbal said the only services they provide at the PhilSports Arena quarantine facility are food catering, lodging for servicing personnel, provision of Personal Protective Equipment and supplies, janitorial services and waste collection, hygiene kits and medical equipment and supplies. “OCD is not involved in the actual management and operation of any COVID-19 facility,” said Timbal. “We are confident that the PNP, who manages the Ultra (PhilSports) COVID19 Quarantine Facility would be able to resolve this matter by verifying where the said chemical actually came from and by examining their procedures involved in disinfecting the facilities they manage as well as protection of their frontline staff,” he added. Sources told the Manila Bulletin on Monday that the chemicals used in the decontamination solution at PhilSports Arena were donated to the PNP. Read more: OCD denies sourcing decontamination chemicals that killed police doctor