CEBU CITY — A policeman who was deployed in a barangay that had been locked down due to more than 100 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tested positive for the virus.
The patrolman, an operative of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), is the first policeman in Central Visayas to be infected with the virus, said Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ferro Ignatius, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7).
Ferro said the policeman is asymptomatic and may have acquired the virus from a jail officer who was earlier tested positive for COVID-19.
The patrolman was one of the RMFB personnel who were deployed in Barangay Luz. He was also one of the at least 40 policemen who underwent swab testing.
Because of the development, at least 50 policemen who had in close contact with the patrolman will be isolated for 14 days.
“It (isolation) will really weaken our force but we have our contingency. We are using our reserved force in the region and we will ask the Armed Forces to augment and reinforcement our quarantine control points or checkpoints,” said Ferro.
A police station in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City was placed under isolation after its two inmates tested positive for the virus.
“The police personnel of Station 6 will have to stay in the station for 14 days. They will not be allowed to go out or go home to protect their families,” said Ferro.
All the personnel in station will be tested while the two inmates had been transferred to an isolation facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. (Calvin D. Cordova)
