CORDILLERA police will wait for the formal complaint of Abra Governor Ma. Jocelyn Bernos after two police officers who entered the province tested positive for coronavirus.
But Brigadier General R'win Pagkalinawan, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera, said police in the region are always reminded to strictly observe minimum health protocols.
"All city, provincial, and municipal police stations of PRO-COR have been reminded of the strict observance of the minimum health protocols. I have yet to receive a complaint of our police personnel violating the health protocols," Pagkalinawan said.
Bernos earlier slammed Authorized Persons Outside Residences (Apor), including members of the Philippine National Police assigned in other provinces of the region who went home to the province for a vacation without coordination with their local government units.
Bernos reminded that Apors are not exempted from health protocols implemented by the province and advised them to follow protocols, like staying at their homes for the duration of their stay in the province to prevent the possible transmission of the coronavirus.
On September 5, the Provincial Government reported two new Covid-19 cases, both police personnel who Bernos said came to Abra without prior notice or coordination made to local government units.
Meanwhile, Pagkalinawan said all provincial police offices were ordered to establish Covid-19 isolation facilities for personnel who will be infected with coronavirus and be given immediate treatment.
PRO-Cordillera's health services office is currently addressing the medical needs of police personnel who contracted the virus.
"In PRO-COR, we currently have around 28 positive cases. The most cases we recorded came from Kalinga, particularly at Tanudan Police Station with seven personnel infected. They were not conscious of observing health protocols which is why, I am asking the chief of police to explain why despite the fact that his area is supposed to be a safe heaven, yet they acquired the virus," Pagkalinawan said.
He added that police applicants who were infected with the virus will be placed under quarantine procedures and will continue the process of application after testing negative for the virus.
For police applicants who have been processed last month but were found to have been infected with the virus, they are just finishing the quarantine period and if their results turn out negative, maybe by September 15, they will take their oaths.
"We are lucky as compared to other regional commands who have recorded Covid cases as early as three months ago upon application as compared to us here at PRO-COR who acquired the virus detected by our health service during training period," Pagkalinawan added.