Bacolod cops arrest man who fled while waiting for swab test result

BACOLOD CITY –– Policemen intercepted a native of this city who escaped while waiting for the results of his swab test.

The man left Bacolod Wednesday night before authorities found out that he tested positive for COVID-19, according to Col. Manuel Placido, Bacolod City police director.

Placido said they went after the man and found him in Aklan on Thursday, April 22, on his way to Batangas City.

“He did not wait for his result,” he said.

Asked if they will file charges against the man, Placido said “We will file raps as appropriate, but my take is, we have to inquire first why such a thing occurred.”

Bacolod City Administrator Em Ang said the man’s father died of COVID-19 a few days ago.

The virus also infected 10 of his 12 family members, said Ang, also the executive director of the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center.

“We requested the Aklan Provincial Health Office to isolate the patient so the other travelers would not be exposed to him. He is an active (COVID-19) carrier,” Ang said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced that Bacolod City started the vaccine rollout for senior citizens on Friday, April 23.

The City Health Office (CHO) inoculated about 350 senior citizens with Sinovac vaccines on the first day of the program.

Of the number, at least 150 seniors were vaccinated at the lobby of the Government Center, while another 200 seniors were inoculated at four barangay vaccination centers in Villamonte, Mandalagan, Vista Alegre, and Singcang-Airport.

Walk-ins were not allowed for crowd control and to ensure they practice physical distancing.

Another 1,050 doses will be released to various hospitals in Bacolod for the remaining health workers.

“It is the highest priority of the city government to ensure that the lives of Bacolodnons, especially the underprivileged, poor and marginalized, frontline workers, health professionals, healthcare providers, police officers and soldiers, and those in the essential services, especially women who represent the majority of the health workforce, as well as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and people in vulnerable situations, shall be protected from COVID-19,” Leonardia said.

“This vaccination is our only way out of this pandemic and the means to restart our economic recovery,” he added.

LZB