Lapu-Lapu City police chief tests positive for COVID-19

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) director Police Colonel Arnel Banzon. CDN Digital file photo

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—The City Director of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), Police Colonel Arnel Banzon, tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This was confirmed by the deputy director for administration of the LCPO, Police Lieutenant Colonel Resty Santos, on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.

According to Santos, when Banzon attended the command conference at the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7) headquarters last Thursday, February 4, he tested positive in the rapid test, which was mandatory for those who will be attending the activity.

On the same day, Banzon was swab-tested and on the following day, February 5, 2021, the result came out confirming that he was positive for the virus.

With this development, at least 10 LCPO personnel who were close contacts of Banzon were subjected to home-quarantine procedure while waiting to undergo a swab test.

Santos also revealed that aside from Banzon, 13 other LCPO personnel are currently isolated at the Lapu-Lapu City College (LCC) after they tested positive for COVID-19.

But Santos said that except for Banzon, all of these 13 are ready to be discharged from the facility for completing the isolation  period and producing negative results in the re-swabbing.

Santos will be the officer in charge of the LCPO while Banzon, who is asymptomatic, is under quarantine at the City Resource and Management Center (Cremdec) in Barangay Taptap, Cebu City.

/bmjo