Eleazar visits Bangsamoro areas to ensure troops are protected vs Delta variant

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—As health authorities confirmed 16 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the Delta variant in the country, Philippine National Police (PNP) Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar visited the Bangsamoro areas and some parts of Zamboanga peninsula to make sure the troops were protected.

“I need to know their readiness in matters of their safety and health conditions, knowing that the Delta variant is here,” Eleazar said in a press briefing inside the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Barangay Santa Maria here. “I advise them to exercise appropriate actions,” he added.

“I have directed the COVID-19 commander na palakasin ugnayan, mabantayan ang ating hanay (to strengthen and watch our ranks to protect against the disease),” he said.

He also asked ground commanders to put up isolation facilities and to make these facilities ready in cases some police personnel get infected.

But he said preventive measures including vaccination would also help protect the troops against the disease.

Eleazar said he had visited Basilan, Sulu and had slept overnight in Tawi-Tawi before he flew back to this city. He was supposed to visit his troops in Cotabato City and Maguindanao but had been delayed by the prevailing bad weather.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported 16 cases of Delta variant in the country, including one who died in Manila on June 28.

JPV