7 inmates test positive for COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines — Seven persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at Police Station 6 in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City were tested positive for COVID-19.

Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, Cebu City Police Office’s deputy city director for operations, said visitation rights of the PDL have been temporarily suspended to avoid the further spread of the virus.

They were swabbed for COVID-19 as one of the requirements before they will be transferred to the Cebu City Jail.

The station, on the other hand, was also temporarily shut down for cleaning and disinfection.

Parilla said contact tracing is now being conducted.

He said the new arrests of Station 6 will be sent to the city police headquarters.

“This is to contain further transmission of the coronavirus disease,” he said.

He said the congested detention cells of police stations under CCPO make it easy for the virus to spread.

“With the number of arrests and the congested jail facilities, COVID transmission is inevitable,” he said.

To somehow de-congest detention jails, he said, CCPO will ask the city government to allow the city police to use City Hall buses as temporary detention cells.

He said those who commit petty misdemeanors will be detained in the buses.

“Ibutang lang nato didto ang katong mga dinakpan nga dili lang kaayo dagko og kaso, Katong mga serious cases ug dagko nga kaso, mao lang atong ibutang sa detention cells,” he said.

“Usa ni sa pamaagi nga ma-decongest nato atong mga prisohan dayon paspasan nato ang pag-process para ma turn over nato ni sila sa BJMP (The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology),” said Parilla. — KQD (FREEMAN)