PNP readies for securing higher education classes

The National Police said it will still be deploying lawmen for various purposes, this time to secure limited face-to-face classes in higher education institutions, even as COVID-19 cases in the force continued to rise.

Gen. Dionardo Carlos, PNP chief, said lawmen will be deployed within the vicinity of universities and colleges following the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) announcement that it will push thru with Phase 2 of the limited face-to-face classes in areas under COVID Alert Level 3.

“We defer to the wisdom of CHED in allowing the resumption of limited face-to-face classes. Our primary duty is to make sure the minimum public health standards are strictly observed amid another spike of COVID-19 cases, especially in areas under Alert Level 3,” Carlos said.

The PNP chief noted that the affected schools should be prepared to accept students, teachers, and other non-teaching staff safely.

“These higher education institutions that are willing to reopen must assume the responsibility of complying with health and safety protocols,” he said.

Carlos also called on establishments surrounding such schools to implement the minimum public health standards as they will start receiving more customers or clients.

Temperature scanning before entry, observance of physical distancing, wearing of face mask, and non-acceptance of unvaccinated individuals are to be implemented, especially if backed by a valid mandate, he said.

Private security officers must work closely with the police to better control the gathering of people, Carlos added.

Carlos made the remarks even as the PNP announced that it recorded 444 new cases of COVID-19 among lawmen on Wednesday. That figure further raised the number of active cases in the force to 2,843.

Carlos said the PNP added more quarantine facilities and beds inside Camp Crame for infected personnel.

Eighty beds were added at the Training Service facility while additional 100 beds were placed at the badminton court, he said.

“We are adding more quarantine beds as a proactive measure just in case there will be more personnel who will need to undergo quarantine,” Carlos added.

Those facilities come in addition to the Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility, Camp Crame’s primary quarantine area.

Carlos said asymptomatic personnel can go on home quarantine, but need to submit their regular body conditions to the monitoring medical team.

“Hindi rin po tayo tumitigil sa pagbibigay ng booster shots upang mas lalong malabanan ang virus. With the rising number of positive cases in the police force, rest assured that our operational capabilities and performance will not hampered,” Carlos said.