150 more cops test positive for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 150 new coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the total number of cases in the police force is now 3,901.

Banac said 56 of the new patients are assigned in Metro Manila, 15 in Cagayan Valley, 14 in Calabarzon, 10 in Eastern Visayas and one in Mimaropa.

He said the remaining cases are from various administrative and operational support units of the PNP.

There are no new fatalities while 2,707 or 69.39 percent of the patients have recovered.

In Cagayan, 70 police officers in Tuguegarao City who were quarantined after they were exposed to their infected colleagues were replaced on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves, Cagayan Valley police director, said 74 non-commissioned officers were pulled out from various police stations in Cagayan province to fill the posts of the quarantined police officers.

Nieves had earlier deployed 63 new police recruits  in Tuguegarao City to help enforce the protocols of the modified enhanced community quarantine.

City police chief Lt. Col. Jonalyn Tecbobolan and 22 of her men, not the entire police force in the city as earlier reported, tested positive for the virus.

All the 32 inmates in the custodial center were also infected.

The police office has been on lockdown since Aug. 17.

Col. Romaldo Bayting, deputy regional director for operations, said they would designate an interim police chief. – Raymund Catindig