DOH: Deployment of cops pending COVID-19 test results a breach of protocol

The Quezon City Police District breached health protocols when it deployed cops who were still awaiting the release of their COVID-19 test results during President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address, the Department of Health said Thursday.

The QCPD earlier reported that 82 cops tested positive for COVID-19, 51 of whom were deployed during the SONA on July 26. The policemen were tested on July 23 and their results were only released on July 28. 

“Yes, we will say that there was this breach because we have guidelines for that at alam po natin that they should not have been deployed kung hindi pa po natin alam ‘yung mga resulta,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a briefing.

(Yes, we will say that there was this breach because we have guidelines for that and we know that they should not have been deployed if their results had not yet been released.)

Vergeire also said the cops who were positive for COVID-19 could be super spreaders.

“It’s a possibility, pero sa ngayon hindi pa natin masabi ‘yan because we are just assuming na marami silang nakasalamuha. Wala pa po tayong resulta ng contact [tracing],” she explained.

(It’s a possibility, but for now we can’t say that yet because we are just assuming that the cops came into contact with a lot of people. We haven’t received the results of contact tracing.)

The DOH also called on protesters to get in touch with local authorities if they suspect that they came into contact with a COVID-19-positive policeman on the day of the SONA.

QCPD director Police Brigadier General Antonio Candido Yarra earlier said contact tracing was already underway. 

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, meanwhile, said the infections may have been caused by the police station’s poor compliance to health protocols against COVID-19.

Earlier in the day, Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar announced the administrative relief of Station 3 commander Lieutenant Colonel Cristine Tabdi over the incident.

“In view of the apparent breach of protocol when most of these PNP personnel were deployed for SONA duties even if they were still waiting for their RT-PCR results, I have already ordered the administrative relief of the Station Commander, Police Station 3 of the QCPD, for command responsibility,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News