BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Two more police chiefs in Bacolod City tested positive for coronavirus disease, results of the surveillance testing conducted since last week showed, P/Lt. Liberty Indiape, Bacolod City Police spokesperson, said yesterday.
Police Captains Leo Estopa and Armilyn Vargas, commanders of PS 6 and 10 are now under isolation at the quarantine facility of Bacolod City in Brgy. Alijis, Indiape said.
She also said that P/Major Jun Ray Batadlan, station commander of PS 4, and four of his personnel, who tested positive for Covid earlier, were released from isolation yesterday.
With their recuperation, Indiape said the number of active cases among the uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of BCPO is now down to 85.
BCPO director, P/Col. Manuel Placido, said they already extended aid to the uniformed and non-uniformed personnel infected by the virus and the PNP national headquarters is also expected to send similar assistance soon.
Placido said they are now on shifting schedules with 50 percent of the total number of personnel on duty at a given time, so that police stations will not be crowded.
He reminded the policemen to follow minimum health protocols while performing their duties, adding that the BCPO headquarters and the 10 police stations have also been disinfected. Placido also said that the number of personnel infected with Covid will not, in any way, affect their service to the public since those affected comprised only about nine or 10 percent of their total strength although some policemen needed to take on the jobs left by those who are now under quarantine.*