OF THE 196 Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel in Western Visayas who were swabbed and tested for the novel coronavirus or Sars-CoV-2, 176 yielded negative results, BFP Director Jose Embang Jr. said on Wednesday, June 24.
Embang said they were still awaiting the test results of 20 BFP personnel, including that of the personnel who earlier tested positive for the virus.
“Nag re- swab po ulit sya, kasama po sya doon sa 20 remaining na hindi pa nare-release,” he said over a phone interview.
He said 26 of the 28 personnel who were involved in the controversial “despedida party” conducted by BFP members on Boracay Island had already tested negative.
Embang said the 196 BFP personnel who underwent testing were all instructed to finish their 14-day quarantine period before reporting for duty.
Aside from the 28 BFP personnel involved in the party, three BFP Western Visayas officials were relieved from post pending the conduct of investigation.
He said the officials have already reported to his office in Manila.
“‘Yung iba kasama doon ay naka quarantine hinahanap kung saan sila dadalhin pwedeng outside region or outside the regional office kasi hindi po kayang alisin lahat yun e mapa-paralyze po ‘yung regional office. Ang importante ‘yung mga officers na kasama sa Bora 28 ay nandito na sila sa Manila,” said Embang.
The said BFP officials stayed in a hotel in Boracay from June 12 to 14 supposedly to attend a seminar.
However, they were later found to have attended a “despedida party” for one of their colleagues. One tested positive for the virus.
Aside from the BFP personnel, hotel staffers and boatmen who ferried the BFP members to and from the island were all placed under quarantine and underwent testing for the virus. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)