Another cop dies of COVID-19; PNP records 229 new infections

MANILA, Philippines —  A police officer formerly assigned to the Western Visayas police regional office has died of COVID-19, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar confirmed.

According to the PNP, the 52-year-old officer was rushed to a hospital in Iloilo City last September 9 after experiencing difficulty in breathing.  He died on the same day, and a post-mortem examination showed that the officer had contracted the disease.

The officer appears to have received two doses of an unnamed COVID-19 vaccine.

The latest death pushed the COVID-19 death toll in the PNP to 110. Meanwhile, 229 new infections pushed the PNP’s active cases to 2,685.

In total, the PNP has recorded 37,566 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Eleazar assured the family of the deceased officer that all benefits and assistance will be given.

“I would like to extend the PNP’s sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and assure them that all benefits and assistance will be given”, Eleazar said.

Similarly, the PNP chief reminded police officers to be careful even if already fully vaccinated.

As of now, 124,758 or 56.02 percent of the PNP’s personnel have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Mean =while 38.56 percent or 85,877 are awaiting their second dose.  Only 12,076 remain unvaccinated.

“Sa ating mga pulis, dobleng pag-iingat pa rin ang gawin kahit kayo ay kumpleto na ng bakuna lalo na ang mga nasa frontline,” Eleazar said.

(For our police officers, we should still take extreme care even if we have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those on the frontlines.)

“Sa ngayon ang PNP ay mayroon nang 56.02% o 124,758 fully vaccinated police personnel samantalang 85,877 or 38.56% ang nakatanggap na ng unang dose ng vaccine. Kaya naman mayroon na lamang  12,076 or 5.42% na pulis ang hindi pa nababakunahan,” Eleazar stated.

(As of now the PNP has 56.02% or 124,758 fully vaccinated police personnel. Meanwhile, 85,877 or 38.56% have already received at least one dose of the vaccine.  This means there are only 12,076 or 5.42% police officers who remain unvaccinated.)

/MUF