THE Philippine National Police recorded its 79th COVID-19 fatality yesterday: a 42-year old patrolman assigned at the Ifugao Police Provincial Office.

The native of Indanan, Sulu who was last assigned at the Asipulo Municipal Police Station in Ifugao province developed a sore throat and had fever and cough last May 2 prompting his superiors to have him isolated in a local quarantine facility where he was subjected to a swab test.

The cop was tested positive for the virus last May 6 and was referred to a local hospital where he was subjected to an x-ray. However, he was transferred to another hospital in Bayombong when his condition worsened.

Around 4 p.m. Sunday, an attending physician declared the policeman dead due to COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic encephelopathy.

The cop’s family requested that his remains be taken to their house in Indanan.

PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar offered his condolences to the family of the deceased policeman and assured them of all possible assistance.

The death of the cop came on the same day the PNP Health Service recorded 72 new cases of COVID-19 in the force bringing to 21,238 the total number of police personnel who have contracted the dreaded virus since March last year.

However, PNP-HS director Brigadier Gen. Luisito P. Magnaye said that 19,661 of the total have already fully recovered from the disease — 48 of them last Sunday– and are now back in full duty status. The official said they are also monitoring a total of 1,518 ‘active cases’ as of Sunday.

Last Wednesday, a Maguindanao policeman became the 57th COVID-19 fatality in the PNP. The 47-year old Corporal assigned at the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao Police Provincial Office died due to COVID-19 with Comorbidity-Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity.

The day before, a 31-year-old police non-commissioned was recorded as the 57th COVID-19 fatality in the force after he passed away in a Nueva Ecija hospital.

The 57th fatality was described as a member of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office with the rank of Corporal who tested positive for the virus last April 27 and was taken to a local quarantine facility in San Antonio municipality.

Gen. Eleazar said he wants his men to refrain from indulging in self-medication and home quarantine since they already have facilities that will take care of police personnel who show symptoms of the virus.

“Hindi exempted ang pulis sa virus. Maraming sinawimpalad, 59 na so far, maliit ito compared to the general population but one death is one death too many kaya sundin natin ang protocols. Kaya nga nagdagdag tayo ng facilities, lahat me Station Health Units na. Ang importante ay me individual responsibility tayo para maiwasan na tayo’y mahawa,” Gen. Eleazar said.