Personnel of police station in Cebu City isolated

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 32 personnel of the Pardo Police Station in Cebu City are now in isolation after five men who were detained there tested positive for COVID-19.

The five were made to undergo the test as a new rule for those committed to and/or leaving the Cebu City Jail after several inmates at the facility were found positive of the virus.

The commitment order for the five came out last week so they were made to undergo the COVID-19 test, said the police station’s chief, Police Major John Kareen Escober.

When the five were found positive, 32 personnel of the police station were made to undergo the test, the result of which is expected to be released tomorrow, Monday.

Twenty-nine other personnel of the station who were assigned at checkpoints were not required to undergo the test but were directed not to go to the station for now.

Escober who is among those being isolated admitted that the absence of 32 people from the station is a huge disadvantage to the station’s work, especially in its ongoing anti-drug operations. Majority of the five arrested are facing drug charges.

Cops from the Regional Crisis Battalion of the Cebu City Police Office will take over the work left by the 32 policemen.

The five men have been committed to the city jail but were placed in a separate isolation facility where inmates who are COVID-19 positive are being housed temporarily.  JMO (FREEMAN)