MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday reminded government officials to follow strict health measures during travel, after it was said that Gen. Debold Sinas, the Philippine National Police chief, skipped health screening procedures during his trip to Oriental Mindoro province on the same day he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Speaking in her weekly radio show, Robredo said the public outrage against Sinas “should be a lesson to all of us … to be responsible.”
“We (government officials) should be the example,“ she said. “There is no excuse because the virus itself does not excuse anybody. Whatever the policy is on the ground, we should follow that.”
On Thursday, the PNP said Sinas had tested positive for the new coronavirus on the same day he had visited his men in Mimaropa headquarters.
The local government later issued a statement saying the police chief had skipped provincial health screening by arriving in the province via helicopter instead of going through the Calapan port.
Robredo took note of that helicopter ride, remarking that Sinas “did not undergo proper procedure.”
“But even so, when he arrived at the camp, there should have been procedures during his arrival.
It is our responsibility not to be virus carriers,” she said.