Dela Rosa: Tap PNP to locate those who made contact with Chinese couple

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to tap the assistance of other government agencies, specifically the Philippine National Police (PNP), in tracking down those who came in close contact with the Chinese couple from Wuhan City who tested positive for the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the PNP,  made the suggestion as Duque was being questioned by senators during a Senate hearing as to why the Department of Health (DOH) was not able to complete its contact tracing of those who came in close contact with the infected Chinese couple in Cebu, Dumaguete City, and Manila,

The senator said the DOH should wrap-up its contract tracing as soon as possible to allay the fears of Filipinos.

“To do this, I strongly suggest that you use the inter-agency task force to help. Andiyan ang PNP (The PNP is here), I guarantee you. Andyan ‘yung number two man ng PNP (The number two man of the PNP is here). Give them the list, the manifest, within 48 hours sigurado ako, ma-account lahat ‘yan (I’m sure that all of them will be accounted for in 48 hours),” he said.

Dela Rosa was referring to PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan who was also present at the hearing.

He explained that if the PNP can hunt criminals who try to evade authorities, they can also locate those who made close contact with the infected Chinese couple who are not even in hiding.

“Na-account nga nila ‘yung mga criminal na nagtatago, ‘yun pa kayang mga pasahero na walang kasalanan. Hindi magtatago ‘yan kaya napakadali i-account nyan. Baka 24 hours na-account na lahat ‘yan,” he added.

(They can account for criminals who are in hiding.  They can locate those passengers who are not even in hiding and have done no wrong. They will not hide that’s why they will be easy to locate. Maybe in just  24 hours.)

In response, Duque assured that the DOH will follow the senator’s suggestion.

“We will do that with your assurance, Your Honor,” said the Health Secretary.

According to Duque, only 17 percent of the co-passengers of the Chinese couple have been contacted, saying the airlines have refused to share with them passenger records based on the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

READ: Duque says airlines ‘invoking confidentiality,’ on passenger records

The Chinese couple from Wuhan City is the country’s first and second confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. The 38-year-old woman is currently in isolation at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila while her 44-year-old male companion died on Saturday.

Edited by MUF