At least 82 cops in police station found to be positive for COVID-19
(Eagle News) — Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the relief of the station commander of the Quezon City Police District’s Station 3 following the deployment of policemen for State of the Nation Address-related duties even if their swab test results were pending.
At least 82 of the 161 police station personnel were found to have tested positive for COVID-19.
Eleazar did not name the station commander but reports identified her as Lieutenant Colonel Cristine Tabdi.
Eleazar said she was relieved due to command responsibility.
“This should serve as a reminder to all our commanders to exercise prudence and to strictly abide with our existing protocols amid the serious threat of COVID-19, especially with the rising number of infection from the Delta variant,” Eleazar said.
Eleazar noted, however, that it was still unclear if those infected had the Delta variant.
As such, he urged the public to avoid making any speculations.
“Right now, our focus is to ensure that all of our personnel who were infected receive their necessary medical needs and continue our aggressive contact-tracing and testing,” he said.
He also lamented “unnecessary and insensitive” comments on the infection of the personnel in the police station.
He pointed out that it was cruel to make such comments as the personnel were deployed during SONA to ensure peace and order.
Eleazar also reminded the public that the policemen were also Filipinos and have families who are worrying about them.
