Cop chief of Saint Bernard town, Southern Leyte dies of COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY – The chief of police of Saint Bernard town in Southern Leyte succumbed to COVID-19 on Wednesday, June 30. Lt. Mario Lumayno, 48, died around 11 p.m. while confined in a hospital in Sogod town, also in Southern Leyte. The Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office (SLPPO) confirmed his death in a post on Friday on its social media account. Lumayno’s remains were cremated and are now at their residence in Sogod. Lumayno, who assumed his post last Feb. 20, 2020, reportedly experienced flu-like symptoms on June 23 and was swabbed on June 27. The following day, test results showed that he had the virus. The entire police station of Saint Bernard, composed of around 40 police and non-uniformed personnel, was placed under lockdown on June 25 to avoid the spread of the virus. “On behalf of SLPPO, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of PLt. Lumayno. SLPPO assures to extend whatever assistance it can to ease up the burden,” Col. Dante Novicio, provincial police director, said in a statement. Novicio appealed to the public to refrain from attending mass gatherings to avoid contracting the virus. “We would also like to encourage the public to join the vaccination efforts of the government,” he said. Novicio has yet to announce who will take the post vacated by Lumayno. Saint Bernard has 53 active COVID-19 cases.

LZB