Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has excused single parent cops from frontline duties for the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-10) as a way of protecting their family from the serious threats of the virus.
At the same time, Gamboa also ordered that only one spouse among PNP couples may be deployed to the frontlines while the other spouse may be delegated to administrative or support duties.
“This is to ensure the safety and security of children of PNP personnel from possible exposure and contamination to the virus,” said Gamboa.
But PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said such policy does not apply for PNP personnel whose occupational specialty are most needed like doctors, nurses and personnel with similar technical qualifications.
He said the only way they would be excused to render duty for COVID-19 response is if they are existing medical conditions that would make them prone to virus infection.
Banac said the Chief PNP already ordered the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) to make an accounting of PNP personnel to identify couples who are both performing frontline duties.
“The DPRM has a clear instruction that it should and ensure that one of the spouses is exempted from deployment to frontline duties,” said Banac.
The PNP has been tapped to implement the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tens of thousands of cops are currently deployed at the frontline. (Aaron Recuenco)
