Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Everyone should learn how to be a team player because no man is an island.
This was the message of Police Brigadier General Ronnie S. Montejo, regional director of the Police Regional Office 7, to the 160 trainees of class 03-2020 who will be undergoing the Basic Internal Security Office Course (BISOC).
Montejo was the guest of honor of the turnover of the new batch of trainees done this morning, January 27, 2021, at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The class is composed of 160 trainees, 135 men, and 25 women.
The 60-day BISOC training aims to improve the counter-insurgency skills of the police trainees.
Molecular Laboratory
Right after the program, Gen. Montejo proceeded to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to check and assess the molecular laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug which will be operational soon. Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Police Colonel Josefino Ligan invited Montejo to check on the laboratory.
Montejo said that the laboratory is ready but still needs some equipment to be completely functional. He said that the molecular laboratory is initially intended for PNP personnel only but they are considering including dependents and other frontliners to help avoid congesting hospitals and minimize backlogs. The laboratory can also check and detect the new variant of COVID-19.
Surge of COVID cases in Cebu City
Montejo also revealed that proper information dissemination is critical in addressing the surging cases of COVID-19 aside from the strict enforcement of established health protocols. Montejo said that a lockdown is also an effective way to combat COVID-19, but personally, he said he does not prefer a total lockdown for now.
“As a whole dili pa sya advisable sa pagkakaron kay manageable pa man,” Montejo said as he urged everyone to continue following the health protocols mandated by health authorities and not be complacent.
Meanwhile, Major Wilbert Parilla mentioned that based on data provided by the EOC, most COVID-19 transmissions happen not in the slum areas but in condominiums and hotels.
Parilla said one of the reasons why the city has increased cases is because of those who have the capability to organize private parties. He also revealed his preference to lower the city’s curfew from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. because it would result in fewer people going outside. /rcg