Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal
MANILA, Philippines — A 48-year-old police officer from Zamboanga City, who died just eight days after being tested positive for coronavirus, is the latest fatality among the country’s police force, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.
In a report sent to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the police health service said that the policeman first experienced persistent COVID symptoms on June 30, before he was brought to a nearby hospital for an RT-PCR test, where he then tested positive.
EIght days later, on July 6, the policeman died due to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19.
“I would like to give my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of our police personnel. Lahat po ng tulong na maaring ibigay ng PNP ay amin pong ipapaabot sa kanyang pamilya,” Eleazar said.
(I would like to give my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of our police personnel. We will extend all the help that the PNP can provide to his family.)
As of July 8, the PNP now has 76 total deaths, out of PNP’s 28,625 total recorded COVID-19 cases.
Active cases are currently at 1,460 and recoveries at 27,089.
Meanwhile a total of 47,209 or 21.61 percent of PNP personnel have already received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine while 14,205 are now fully vaccinated.
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