By Martin SadongdongÂ
Cops were temporarily barred from traveling abroad over the worldwide threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Tuesday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
PNP Chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered the suspension of the processing of foreign travel and authority to travel abroad for official functions of all personnel.
"All leave applications under process by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) are put on hold," he said.
Over the weekend, the confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide have surpassed the 100,000 mark, according to the World Health Organization. The cases were reported in 100 countries.
In the Philippines, there are 33 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday per the Department of Health (DOH).
Gamboa likewise declared all scheduled activities and events at the PNP Multipurpose Center will continue but under the close supervision of medical personnel.
Meanwhile, the PNP Health Service said it has been monitoring the conditions of three police personnel and one dependent who were placed under home quarantine.
Gamboa said three of them have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 while one was asymptomatic.
"Two of the four persons under monitoring have travel history to Tokyo, Japan," he noted.
This developed as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas disclosed earlier that four of his personnel are also undergoing quarantine procedures.
Meanwhile, the PNP Headquarters Support Service temporarily closed Gate 4 of Camp Crame in Quezon City in response to the contact tracing being conducted by the DOH on those who came into contact with a COVID-19 patient in West Crame, San Juan City.
It was President Duterte who announced Monday night about four new COVID-19 cases in the country, one of them traced to Barangay West Crame. He said this in the meeting of the Inter-agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) in Malacañang.
Gamboa also said the Directorate for Operations, upon the recommendation of the IATF-MEID, has instructed the NCRPO to deploy police personnel in malls, amusement parks, and gaming centers to advise loitering students to go home.
In the meeting, Duterte also declared that classes in Metro Manila were suspended from March 10 to 14 to prevent the spread of the virus.
"The PNP is closely monitoring developments and coordinating instructions from IATF-MEID for immediate action by concerned units," Gamboa said.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
PNP Chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered the suspension of the processing of foreign travel and authority to travel abroad for official functions of all personnel.
"All leave applications under process by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) are put on hold," he said.
Over the weekend, the confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide have surpassed the 100,000 mark, according to the World Health Organization. The cases were reported in 100 countries.
In the Philippines, there are 33 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday per the Department of Health (DOH).
Gamboa likewise declared all scheduled activities and events at the PNP Multipurpose Center will continue but under the close supervision of medical personnel.
Meanwhile, the PNP Health Service said it has been monitoring the conditions of three police personnel and one dependent who were placed under home quarantine.
Gamboa said three of them have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 while one was asymptomatic.
"Two of the four persons under monitoring have travel history to Tokyo, Japan," he noted.
This developed as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas disclosed earlier that four of his personnel are also undergoing quarantine procedures.
Meanwhile, the PNP Headquarters Support Service temporarily closed Gate 4 of Camp Crame in Quezon City in response to the contact tracing being conducted by the DOH on those who came into contact with a COVID-19 patient in West Crame, San Juan City.
It was President Duterte who announced Monday night about four new COVID-19 cases in the country, one of them traced to Barangay West Crame. He said this in the meeting of the Inter-agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) in Malacañang.
Gamboa also said the Directorate for Operations, upon the recommendation of the IATF-MEID, has instructed the NCRPO to deploy police personnel in malls, amusement parks, and gaming centers to advise loitering students to go home.
In the meeting, Duterte also declared that classes in Metro Manila were suspended from March 10 to 14 to prevent the spread of the virus.
"The PNP is closely monitoring developments and coordinating instructions from IATF-MEID for immediate action by concerned units," Gamboa said.