By Jennifer P. Rendon
Both the Igbaras and Miga-ao municipal police stations in Iloilo province returned to normal operations starting Wednesday, Aug 26.
This, after 33 personnel from Igbaras Municipal Police Station and 30 from Miag-ao Municipal Police Station who underwent the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test were negative for COVID-19.
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Police Regional Office (PRO-)6 spokesperson, said that the Western Visayas Medical Center released the results on Aug 25.
Personnel from both stations had to be tested after one of their colleagues contracted the virus.
Subsequently, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) ordered a lockdown on Igbaras and Miagao Municipal Police Stations on August 12 and 16, respectively.
All personnel were quarantined until their results were released.
Malong said the Igbaras PNP was temporarily manned by 29 personnel led by Police Lieutenant Pantaleon Amante during the isolation of its organic personnel.
On the other hand, 20 personnel led by Lieutenant Gina Fernandez temporarily oversaw Miag-ao Police Station to maintain police presence and security in the community. The augmented personnel came from the different units of IPPO.
Meanwhile, Malong said there are still seven Igbaras cops and one from Miag-ao who are awaiting their result.
“I am happy that my personnel are negative from COVID-19,” Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said adding that “they are now ready to fulfill their duties to their respective stations.”
As this developed, both municipal police stations will continue the implementation of minimum health protocols as they deliver their duties to prevent the spread of the virus.
