PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has called for the evaluation of all health workers within the national police force, but rejected the idea of a timeout, the same appeal proposed by medical workers as the country continues to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Earlier, medical groups appealed to the government to reinstate firmer lockdown measures in Metro Manila amidst the uncontrollable increase of new Covid-19 cases to let both private and public hospitals breathe from the surge of patients.
President Rodrigo Duterte, on the other hand, responded to their request and immediately imposed a modified enhanced community quarantine status for 15 days in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
Doctors and other medical personnel taking care of sick police personnel are the ones who will be evaluated according to Gamboa.
He added that a timeout for PNP medical workers and police officers is not possible.
“We are not authorized to call for a timeout in the PNP. We have to continue,” Gamboa said.
The national police force has around 209,000 personnel, enough to implement quarantine protocols, Gamboa added.
“We are trained to pursue our duties primarily, but thinking of yourself should only be secondary. What should be top of mind is duty,” Gamboa said.
He advised PNP doctors and other health workers to be focused on their duties of aiding their sick colleagues. RJ Espartinez