San Fernando police station on lockdown

CEBU, Philippines —  The town police station of San Fernando, Cebu is placed on lockdown while 16 personnel are under isolation because of their contact with the three detainees who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Captain Efren Diaz, chief of police, said nine of those undergoing isolation are staying inside the police station, four are in the isolation center of Barangay Poblacion, while three others are under home quarantine. Twelve of them were already swabbed on May 31.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director Col. Roderick Mariano said they have set up a temporary station while the town’s police station is on lockdown.

San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya announced on Sunday that she is ordering the lockdown of the detention cell of the police station after three of the inmates tested positive for COVID-19. One of those who tested positive is now admitted at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

The three COVID-positive inmates were arrested in January over charges of illegal drugs and rape. Mariano said that until swab test result is out, the isolated personnel will remain in isolation.

Despite the lockdown of the police station, Mariano has assured the public that normal functions and operations of the police remain unhampered.

He said there were additional personnel from the quick response team deployed to help the remaining personnel of San Fernando Police Station.  FPL (FREEMAN)