A 46-YEAR-OLD policewoman from Cagayan Valley who is battling breast cancer became the 129th COVID-19 fatality in the 225,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP) last Monday.

PNP Chief General Dionardo B. Carlos said the member of the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) passed away due to comorbidities while fighting cancer.

“Base po sa record na ibinigay sa PNP Health Service [PNP-HS], ang naturang pulis ay mayroong comorbidity at nakikipaglaban sa sakit na breast cancer,” the top cop said.

PNP-HS director, Brigadier Gen. Antonino R. Cirujales said that the policewoman had already undergone a series of chemotherapy for breast cancer.

He said that last Monday, they were informed by the policewoman’s daughter that they were inside their house when she vomited before drawing her last breath.

The daughter immediately called for medical assistance but her mother was pronounced dead upon arrival in a local hospital by an attending physician.

A post-mortem examination and swab test conducted on the deceased cop yielded a positive result for COVID-19.

Records showed that she completed her vaccine last November 2021.

“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the police personnel,” Gen. Carlos said.

The PNP-HS on Saturday reported that 48,729 police personnel have already fully recovered from the virus since March 2020.

As of press time, there are two “active cases” in the force being monitored by PNP doctors.

No case was reported on Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Cirujales said that at present, 223,038 police personnel of 99.27% of the force have already been fully vaccinated while 1,104 or 0.49% have already received their 1st dose.

Another 189,515 or 84.97% have also received their “booster shot” as of press time.

However, there are a remaining 527 PNP personnel or 0.24% of the PNP’s entire strength who are yet to be inoculated, 230 of them with valid reasons while the 297 have no valid reason at all, said the PNP-HS director.