PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Saturday reminded anew all police offices and units to ensure cleanliness and orderliness in their respective stations and offices amid the deadly threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

This as two more policemen passed away due to COVID-19 this week, bringing to 84 the number of PNP personnel who have died after contracting the virus since March last year.

In a message to his men, the top cop reminded police chiefs that their stations should be clean, not just for the organization’s Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP), but also for the health and safety of their personnel.

“Mas mahalaga ngayon na pairalin ang ating ICP sa pagtiyak na malinis ang ating mga istasyon at opisina. Dapat siguraduhin ng lahat ng mga police commanders na maayos at malinis ang kanilang istasyon upang mas maging ligtas ang mga pulis laban sa COVID-19,” Eleazar said.

“Ang pagpapanatili ng kalinisan ng mga police stations ay hindi lamang para presentable ang mga ito sa publiko, para na din ito sa kalusugan ng mga pulis na assigned doon. Mas kailangan tayo ng taumbayan ngayon kaya dapat pangalagaan natin ang ating sarili upang makapagsilbi tayo ng maayos,” he said.

Eleazar also reminded his men to strictly follow the minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols for their own safety against the more infectious variant of the coronavirus.

He ordered police commanders to ensure that their men are always provided protective gear especially when they are deployed to man quarantine control points or are tasked to conduct patrols.

“Pinapaalalahanan ko ang ating kapulisan na mas magingat lalo na ngayong may banta ng Delta variant. Hindi dahil nabakunahan na tayo ay hindi na tayo maaaring dapuan ng COVID-19. Ibayong pagiingat at mahigpit na pagsunod sa minimum public health safety standards at quarantine protocols pa din ang ating kailangan,” he said.

The top cop also said police stations should always be disinfected as there have been reports on the surge of COVID-19 cases among cops.

A police station in Iloilo was placed on lockdown after 20 of its personnel got infected with COVID-19. At least 82 police officers from the Quezon City Police District Station 3 also tested positive for COVID-19 this week.

Meanwhile, one of the two policemen who succumbed to COVID-19 is a Lieutenant from the Regional Communications and Electronics Unit 2 in Cagayan Valley, while the other is a Staff Sergeant from the PNP Chaplain Service in Camp Crame.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announced today the death of two more police personnel which bring the total deaths in the PNP to 84,” Eleazar said.

According to the PNP Health Service, the 51-year-old Lieutenant from Tuguegarao City last July 23 went to a local clinic for medical consultation due to fever, body malaise and sore throat.

The officer was subjected to an RT-PCR test on the same day. After he tested positive for the virus, he was advised to proceed to the Police Regional Office 2 quarantine facility.

Last Tuesday, the officer experienced difficulty in breathing and was hooked to an oxygen inhalation. On Friday, his condition worsened and was pronounced dead by his attending physician 4 in the morning.

On the other hand, Patient 84 was hospitalized due to kidney malfunction and yielded negative result of COVID-19 upon his admission.

Last July 13, he was subjected to another RT-PCR test and was found positive for the virus prompting doctors to order him transferred to the hospital’s COVID-19 ward.

On Thursday, the non-commissioned officer experienced difficulty in breathing and died while under intubation.

“Lubos po akong nakikiramay sa pamilya ng ating mga namatay na pulis at ano man pong tulong na aming makakaya ay amin pong ipaaabot sa inyo,” Eleazar said.

As of Saturday, the PNP-HS headed by Brigadier Gen. Luisito P. Magnaye said it has recorded 106 new cases bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the force to 30,434 with 1,144 active cases.

The PNP-HS however recorded 49 new recoveries raising the number of police personnel who have recovered from the disease and are now back to full duty status to 29,206 or a 95 percent recovery rate.

Eleazar said a total 43,532 or 19.86 percent of the police force are now fully vaccinated while 48,993 personnel have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.