70% of PNP ready for vaccination rollout deployment —spokesman

Around 70% of the Philippine National Police is ready to be deployed to escort and secure COVID-19 vaccines and inoculation teams during the rollout, its spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said Sunday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Usana said the actual number of deployment of police personnel will depend on the need of vaccination sites.

"Ang naka-deploy naman po at naka-ready actually for deployment ay 70%. Depende po 'yan sa lugar na pagdadausan ng vaccination," he said.

Despite the task of the police in ensuring security in the vaccination rollout, Usana assured the public that anti-criminality operations will continue with the help of other law enforcement agencies.

“Of course dito po sa anti-criminality, hindi po 'yan mawawala. Nandoon pa rin po 'yung cooperation between law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier ordered the police to secure COVID-19 vaccines and inoculation teams to avoid possible disruption of the distribution and inoculation processes.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas assured the public that the organization is ready to provide security during the vaccination rollout.

Aside from providing security, Usana earlier said the PNP will also deploy its medical reserve force to assist health workers in administering COVID-19 vaccines to recipients. —LBG, GMA News