PNP ready for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Sinas assures public

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas on Wednesday assured the public that the organization is ready to provide security during the vaccination rollout against COVID-19.

In a statement, Sinas said the PNP Directorate for Operations prepared a plan that will activate all security and public safety operations.

“In our own assessment of the simulation exercise of the vaccine delivery  held yesterday at the NAIA, RITM, PGH and Lung Center, all systems are in place to ensure the unhampered transport of the vaccine shipment to the storage facilities and distribution hubs,” Sinas said.

Security and public safety guidelines and procedures are set under the PNP Vaccination Plan “Caduceus.”

PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag will serve as supervisor in the implementation.

Police regional offices will escort the transport of vaccine shipments from storage hubs to vaccination centers.

They will also set up police assistance desks in vaccination centers to prevent criminal elements and threat groups from “talking advantage.”

Aside from these, Sinas said police medical frontliners will be deployed to assist health workers in administering COVID-19 vaccines to recipients.

“We designated a Medical Reserve Force on top of the regular PNP Medical and Nurse Corps,” he said.

Even with the additional task in vaccination rollout, Sinas said they will remain on alert against possible peace and order and security issues, especially in areas with domestic threat groups.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier ordered the police to secure COVID-19 vaccines and inoculation teams to avoid possible disruption. — Jovialnd Rita/RSJ, GMA News