Cebu City cops ready for vaccination

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is preparing for the vaccination of its personnel under priority group A4 as it submitted a letter of coordination with the local government unit (LGU).

CCPO deputy director for operations, Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, said in a press conference yesterday that the cops on the grounds will be first vaccinated among them.

"Since ang PNP has already been given a clearance na pwede na magpa-vaccine, we are already requesting the LGU for the inclusion for the priority for vaccination," said Parilla.

According to Parilla, they have already submitted a request letter last week and that the LGU is currently discussing about when the vaccination among the CCPO members begins.

Parilla added that at least all the 1,200 police personnel of the CCPO, both in the headquarters and the police stations, have agreed to be vaccinated.

The count includes all non-uniformed personnel.

"Tanan. Gi-require man gyud sad nato ni tanan for vaccination," said Parilla.

There will be an arrangement that the CCPO will have to follow in order to keep the police services uninterrupted during the vaccination process.

"So mohatag ta og schedule sa ilaha, then ato sad gibahin-bahin ang atoang personnel to make sure nga dili ma-disable ang atoang services sa katawhan," said Parilla.

Parilla further said that although the vaccination is voluntary, they had encouraged their personnel to be vaccinated.

He added that they have been explaining to their members on the importance of the vaccination, especially for those who are in the field and in the front line.

Parilla, however, said that they do not have any directives on imposing sanctions against personnel who will refuse to get vaccinated.

"But ang directive lang is we must undergo vaccination, atong gi-priority jud tong mga personnel nato sa field kay sila jud ang directly involved," said Parilla.

Among those who will be prioritized are policemen manning the checkpoints and those included in the contact tracing team.

"Last atong mga office personnel," said Parilla.

No date yet on when the vaccination will start. — GMR (FREEMAN)