TWO more police personnel were recorded to have died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, one of them a policewoman from Central Mindanao who delivered her baby via caesarian section last August 10 before passing away three days later.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said PNP Patient 97 was a 52-year-old intelligence operative assigned in Metro Manila who was fully vaccinated last July 14.

The cop was admitted to a hospital last August 14 for immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival by his attending physician. He tested positive for the virus during an RT-PCR test.

Patient 98 wasa 31-year-old female investigator assigned in General Santos City who tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday.

The policewoman was admitted to a local hospital last August 5 due to shortness of breath. Last August 10, the pregnant cop underwent an emergency caesarean section operation and delivered the baby.

However, her condition worsened and she was transferred to a nearby hospital where she died due to acute respiratory failure.

“Ako po ay lubos na nakikiramay sa pamilya ng ating mga pulis na namatay. Mayroon na po tayong ibinababang kautusan noon pa man na ang mga babaeng pulis at NUP na buntis ay dapat naka-work from home na lamang dahil malaki po ang risk na kung sila ay papapasukin pa ng opisina,” Gen. Eleazar said.

The PNP-HS headed by Brigadier Gen. Luisito P. Magnaye also recorded 140 new cases bringing the total of cases to 32,760 with 1,983 ‘active cases.’ Another 139 recoveries were also noted raising the total number of police personnel who have fully recovered from the disease and are now back to full duty status to 30,679.

ELEAZAR CITES HIGH VACCINATION RATE IN PNP

Gen. Eleazar had underscored their high vaccination rate in the force amid the increasing number of COVID-19 deaths in the organization since March 2020.

According to the top cop, around 83 police personnel or 37 percent of their total strength have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus while more than 97,000 are awaiting their 2nd dose already.

“This is a great development for the PNP as we encounter deaths and new cases regularly due to COVID-19,” the PNP chief said.

As of Wednesday, the PNP-HS said they have registered a total of 83,324 or 37.50 percent fully vaccinated police personnel while 97,363 or 43.82 percent are just awaiting their 2nd dose to complete the inoculation.

“Mahigit kalahati na po ng buong hanay ng pulisya ang ating nababakunahan. Sa ngayon mayroon na lang tayong 18.47 percent o 41,482 na pulis at non-uniformed personnel ang naghihintay na mabakunahan,” Gen. Eleazar said.

Records also showed that 23,038 police personnel who were surveyed wanted to be administered the Pfizer vaccine, 2,783 preferred Astra Zeneca; 1,189 wanted Moderna; and 5,388 preferred Sinovac.

On Tuesday, the PNP-HS also recorded four more COVID-19 deaths prompting Gen. Eleazar to further raise the alarm bell in the force and strongly reiterate his guidance to all PNP personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19, follow health protocols, and not to self-medicate.

Since last August 1, there have been a total of 17 police personnel who have died after contracting COVID-19.

Most of the fatalities over the past two weeks alone are yet to be given anti-COVID, anti-flu or anti-pneumonia vaccines and were found to be suffering from different comorbidities.

Last month, there were only 80 COVID-19 deaths in the PNP since March last year. However, since last August 1, there were an additional 18 new deaths, three of them Police Commissioned Officers and the 15 all Police Non-Commissioned Officers.

The officers who died after contracting the virus include a Lieutenant Colonel, a Police Captain and a Police Lieutenant

Of the 98 fatalities, six are from the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame; seven from PNP National Operational Support Units; 22 from National Operational Support Units; and 64 from Police Regional Offices.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) recorded the biggest number of fatalities with 20 followed by seven from the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) in Central Visayas; six from the PRO4-A in Calabarzon region; four each from PRO3 in Central Luzon, PRO6 in Western Visayas, PRO12 in Central Mindanao and PRO9 in Western Mindanao; and three each from PRO10 in Northern Mindanao; PRO11 in Southern Mindanao; and the Bangsamoro Administrative Region.

Gen. Eleazar has called on his men to be extra cautious as they continue their anti-criminality campaign while strictly enforcing IATF health protocols in the NCR Plus and the rest of the country to help reduce the further spread of COVID-19 especially its more dangerous Delta variant.