158 more PNP personnel test positive for COVID-19

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said 158 more of its personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total case count within the agency to 20,769.

Meanwhile, the death toll also rose to 57 after one policeman succumbed to the illness on Tuesday.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said the latest fatality is a 31-year-old police corporal that was assigned in Nueva Ecija. The cop tested positive for COVID-19 on April 7 and was brought to a quarantine facility.

However, the policeman was rushed to the hospital on Monday due to difficulty in breathing and muscle cramps. He died the following day due to acute respiratory failure and pneumonia.

"Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. As front liners in fighting this unseen enemy, some of our police officers are putting their life on line, I salute you all,” Sinas said in a statement.

The PNP also reported that 172 more personnel recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total to 19,086, while active cases in the organization were recorded at 1,626.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has reported 1,067,892 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 4, of which 984,210 have recovered and 17,622 have died. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News