Eleazar: PNP trusts health workers will observe COVID-19 protocols during mass protest

Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Monday said the organization trusts that healthcare workers will observe COVID-19 health protocols during their protest actions.

In a statement, Eleazar said the PNP respects the right of healthcare workers to hold protests to air their concerns and grievances.

“We in the PNP also trust their wisdom and expect their own initiative to protect themselves since the observance of the health protocols is part of their line of work,” Eleazar said.

Citing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s instruction to address their concerns, Eleazar expressed confidence that the issue of health workers will be settled soon.

The Alliance of Health Workers is staging a protest action on September 1 to urge the government to already give all of their benefits related to their work.

Eleazar acknowledged the contribution of health workers in commemoration of the National Heroes’ Day.

He said he personally witnessed the sacrifices of PNP’s healthcare workers and medical frontliners  amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We in the PNP also honor the ultimate sacrifice of healthcare workers and medical frontliners who died in the line of duty,” he said.

“Truly, your service to the Filipino people in this time of pandemic is clearly a modern-day heroism that is worth emulating,” he added. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News