By Jennifer P. Rendon
Another police station in Iloilo province was locked down after one of its uniformed personnel tested positive for COVID-19.
Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police chief, confirmed that Miag-ao Police Station has been ordered to lock down for 14 days after a 25-year old personnel was confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
The personnel, a patrolman who hails from Negros Occidental, was swabbed on Aug 10 after experiencing mild symptoms.
His positive result came out Aug 16.
“Apparently, he could not pinpoint where he could have contracted the virus,” Lucas said.
The officer has not been home for some time already.
The police station will be temporarily closed for disinfection while its personnel will be temporarily housed in the municipal gym.
All other members of Miag-ao Police Station will take shelter in the gym but are on isolation.
On the other hand, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has already sent “enough augmentation force” to the town to take over regular works such as releasing of police blotters and police clearances and responding to assistance and incidents.
Last August 13, the municipal police station of Igbaras was also locked down for 14 days after the entire force was exposed to a COVID-19 case.
The IPPO also sent 25 police officers to maintain peace and order in the town during the lockdown.
Amid this development, Lucas hoped that policemen assigned in all police stations will be tested to ensure that personnel doing frontline services are free from the virus.
So far, the IPPO said they have enough personnel to man the entire province.
